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FOLEY'S   STATUE  OF  STONEWALL  JACKSON. 


L     .' 


JOilMALSl. 

LOS  AKGELES.  -:-CAL. 


BY 

JOHN     ESTEN      COOKE, 

AUTHOR  OF  "SURRY  OF  EAGLE*S  NEST,"  "  MOHUN,"  ETC. 


NEW  YORK  : 

G.    IV.    Di  I  ling  ham,    Publisher, 

SUCCESSOR  TO  G.  W.  CARLETON  &  Co. 

MDCCCXCIII. 


ENTERED,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1866,  by 

D.  APPLETON  &  COMPANY, 

IB  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 
District  of  New  York. 


EirrxBXD,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1875,  by 

D.  APPLETON  &  COMPANY, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


CONTENTS 


PART  I. 

FROM  HIS  CHILDHOOD  TO  THE  BATTLE  OF  MANASSA3. 

MAP 

w    CHAP.  I. — Country  Boy  and  Constable,    ...            .  9 

V           IL — Cadet  at  West  Point,         .            .            .            .            .  12 

III. — Lieutenant  of  Artillery  in  Mexico,       ...  14 

IV. — Professor  at  Lexington,      .           .           .           .           .  19 

V.— -Jackson  is  appointed  Colonel  of  Volunteers,             .  84 

VI.— The  Valley,            ......  39 

VIL— The  First  Brigade,       .....  41 

VIII. — Johnston  Retreats,             .....  44 

IX.— The  "  Affair  at  Falling  Waters,"          .            .            .  .49 

X. — Johnston  leaves  the  Valley,            ....  53 

XI. — Advance  of  the  Grand  Army,    ....  69 

XII. — Manassas,  .......  63 

PAET    II. 
THE  CAMPAIGN   OF  THE  VALLEY. 

CHAP.  I.— The  Autumn  of  1861,              ...  .77 

II. — Jackson's  Farewell  Address  to  his  Brigade,  82 

III. — Jackson's  Plan,                        .                        .  .86 

IV. — The  Winter  March  to  Romney,      ....  88 


CONTENTS. 


PAG  9 

98 


CHAP.  V. — Jackson  falls  back  from  Winchester, 

VL — Kernstown,          ....•• 

VIL— Behind  the  Scenes,     .            .            .            •            •  .119 

VUL— McDowell, 124 

IX.— Jackson  flanks  his  Adversary,            .           .            .  .137 
X. — General  Banks  Retreats,  . 

XL— Winchester,    .            .            .            .            «            •  .149 

XIL— The  Lion  in  the  Toils,      .                        ...  154 
XHL— Out  of  the  Meshes,     .                       ....     162 

XIV.— The  Death  of  Ashby, 16V 

XV. — Jackson  narrowly  escapes  Capture,   .            .            .  .176 

XVI. — Cross  Keys,         ......  181 

XVIL— Port  Republic, 186 

XVIIL— Jackson  in  June,  1862,    .  .  .  .  .193 

PART    III. 
FROM  PORT  REPUBLIC  TO  CHANCELLORSVILLE. 

CHAP.  I.—"  General  T.  J.  Jackson,  Somewhere,"          .            .  .     200 

H. — On  the  Chickahominy,     .....  206 

EL— Cold  Harbor,             .           .           .           .            .  .214 

IV. — General  McClellan  retreats  to  James  River,         .            .  227 

V.— Malvern  Hill,              .            .            .            .            .  .233 

VL— Federal  Accounts  of  the  Retreat,            .            .            .  238 

VIL— The  end  of  the  Drama,          .            .            .            .  .245 

VIIL — General  Pope  in  Culpepper,          ....  249 

IX. — Cedar  Run,    .......    254 

X. — Jackson  Pursues,             .....  263 

XI.— General  Lee  advances  from  the  Rapidan        .            .  .267 

XII.— The  March  to  Manassas,  .                                    .            .  274 

XIII. — Jackson  at  Bay,             ...  284 

XIV.— Manassas,  August  29,  1862,        ....  288 

XV.— The  Second  Battle  of  Manassas,                    .            .  .295 

XVI. — Oxhill,  or  Gennantown,  ....  ,     303 


CONTENTS.  I 

PAGl 

CHAP.  XVII. — General  Lee  enters  Maryland,       .  .     307 

XVIIL— Boonsboro'  and  Crampton's  Gap,       ...  817 

XIX.— Capture  of  Harper's  Ferry,           .            .            .  .320 

XX. — Sharpsburg,  or  Antietam,       .            .                        .  327 

XXI.— Shepherdstown,                             .            .            .  .343 

XXH.— The  Campaign,           .....  845 

XXIII. — General  Lee's  Address  to  bis  Army,         .            .  .     847 

XXIV. — Jackson  and  his  Veterans  Resting,     .            .            .  849 

XXV.— General  McClellan  Advances,        .            .            .  .856 

XXVL— Jackson  halts,             .....  362 

XXVII. — Change  of  Commanders,  .            .            .  365 

XXVIIL— Fredericksburg,           ...  368 

XXIX. — General  Bumside  attempts  a  last  Advance,          .  .    879 

"XTX. — Jackson  at  Fredericksburg,    ....  884 

XXXI. — Winter  Quarters  at  Moss  Neck,    .            .            .  .888 

XXXII. — Federal  preparations  for  the  Campaign  of  1863,        .  894 

XXXIIL— The  Campaign  Opens,       .            .            .            .  .897 

XXXIV. — General  Hooker  Advances,     ....  401 

XXXV.— In  the  Wilderness,  .....    404 

XXXVI.— Chancellorsville,          .....  411 

XXXVII.— The  Result  of  Jackson's  Movement,          .           .  429 

XXXVIH— "  It  is  All  Right," 438 

, — Jackson's  Remains  taken  to  Lexington,.  .  445 

XL. — Jackson  the  Soldier  and  the  Man,       .                        .  450 


APPENDIX. 

BY   REV.    J.    W.    JONES,    D.  D. 

Personal  Reminiscences  and  Anecdotes  ....  467 

Proceedings  attending  the  Unveiling  of  the  Bronze  Statue  of  Jack- 
son— the  Gift  of  England  to  Virginia — at  Richmond,  October 

26,  1875 614 

Oration  by  Rev.  Moses  D.  Hoge,  D.  D.  .  .  .  .  556 

The  Spirit  of  the  Press    .  ....  573 


STONEWALL  JACKSON. 


PAET  JT. 

FROM  HIS  CHILDHOOD  TO  THE  FIRST  BATTLE  OF  MANASSAa 
CHAPTER  I. 

COUNTRY   BOY   AND    CONSTABLE. 

THE  Jackson  family  came  from  England  to  Virginia  in  the 
last  century.  John  Jackson,  the  first  of  whom  we  have  men- 
tion, settled  near  Weston,  in  Lewis  County,  beyond  the  Alle- 
ghanies,  and  his  son  Edward  became  county  surveyor,  and 
served  in  the  Legislature.  Jonathan,  the  son  of  Edward  Jack- 
son, settled  in  the  town  of  Clarksburg  in  Harrison  County, 
where  he  commenced  the  practise  of  the  law,  and  married  Miss 
Neal  of  Wood  County.  Of  his  four  children  by  this  marriage, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  THOMAS  JONATHAN,  born  at  Clarks- 
burg, January  21,  1824,  was  the  youngest. 

The  events  of  Jackson's  life  up  to  the  commencement  of  the 
late  war  are  not  sufficiently  interesting  to  justify  very  extended 
notice,  but  some  particulars  deserve  to  be  recorded.  The  Jack- 
sons  did  not  belong  to  the  class  of  planters,  living  in  luxury  and 
elegance  on  the  seaboard,  but  to  that  energetic,  intelligent,  and 
thrifty  population  which  settled  in  Western  Virginia.  -  In  the 


10  LIFE  OF   STONEWALL  JACKSCN. 

first  generation  they  cleared  the  laad,  established  mills,  and 
tilled  the  soil.  In  succeeding  generations  they  were  lawyers, 
judges,  members  of  the  Legislature,  and  soldiers,  filling  offices 
of  usefulness,  and  occasionally  of  distinction.  Their  manners 
were  plain,  their  houses  and  style  of  living  unpretending,  but  the 
class  to  which  the  family  belonged  was  justly  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  intelligent  and  respectable  in  the  Commonwealth. 

Jonathan  Jackson  practised  law  for  many  years  with  suc- 
cess, and  became  a  thriving  citizen,  but  his  latter  years  were 
overshadowed  by  misfortune.  His  wife  died,  and  the  amiable 
gentleman  having  become  security  for  needy  friends,  found  all  the- 
hard-earned  profits  of  his  profession  swept  away.  When  he  died 
in  1827,  he  left  his  children  penniless.  Jackson  was  then  three 
years  old.  The  child  was  thus  left,  upon  the  very  threshold  of 
life,  to  learn  the  hard  lesson  of  poverty.  It  is  the  old  story  which 
meets  us  at  the  commencement  of  many  a  great  career,  and  need 
not  be  dwelt  upon.  The  boy  was  taken  to  the  house  of  a  Dutch 
farmer,  his  uncle-in-law,  who  probably  did  not  make  an  agree- 
able impression  upon  him,  as  he  soon  ran  away  and  took  refuge 
with  a  kind  aunt,  the  wife  of  Judge  Allen  of  the  Court  of  Ap- 
peals. It  is  said  that  when  the  lady  gently  chid  the  forlorn 
young  runaway,  and  urged  him  to  return  to  his  uncle,  he  replied, 
with  great  calmness  and  decision,  "  Maybe  I  ought,  ma'amr 
but  I  am  not  going  to."  Another  uncle,  Cummings  E.  Jackson, 
now  came  to  his  succor,  and  took  him  to  the  old  family  home- 
stead near  Weston.  Here  he  remained  until  he  was  sixteen, 
acquiring  the  rudiments  of  a  plain  English  education  at  an  old 
field  school,  and  assisting  his  uncle  in  the  labors  of  the  farm. 
His  subsequent  acquisitions  were  all  due  to  the  hours  spent  in 
itudy  at  West  Point  and  Lexington. 

The  character  of  the  boy  at  this  time  seems  to  have  been 
earnest  and  energetic.  At  sixteen  he  had  secured  so  high  a  rep- 
utation for  intelligence  and  probity,  that  the  Justices  of  the 
County  Court  of  Lewis  elected  him  constable,  the  duties  of 
which  office  he  performed  with  credit  and  efficiency.  It  is  prob- 
able, however,  that  the  position  did  not  please  him,  and  hearing 


COUNTRY  BOY  AND  CONSTABLE.  11 

that  there  was  a  vacancy  at  West  Point,  he  at  once  determined 
to  apply  for  the  appointment.  This  intention  was  expressed  to 
a  friend,  Colonel  J.  M.  Bennett,  who  urged  the  high  standard 
of  studies  at  the  great  public  school,  and  asked  the  boy  if  he 
had  prepared  himself.  Jackson's  reply  was,  "  I  am  very  igno- 
rant, but  I  can  make  it  up  by  study.  I  know  I  have  the  energy, 
and  I  think  I  have  the  intellect." 

This  reply  pleased  Colonel  Bennett  so  much  that  he  at  once 
sat  down  and  wrote  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the  representative 
of  the  district  in  Congress,  urging  him  to  assist  the  youth,  and 
with  this  letter  in  his  pocket  Jackson  resigned  his  office  of  con- 
stable and  set  out  for  Washington.  An  incident  of  this  jour- 
ney indicated  how  much  importance  he  attached  to  the  observ- 
ance of  his  promises.  He  borrowed  a  friend's  horse  to  ride  to 
Clarksburg,  where  he  expected  to  take  the  stage,  promising  to 
leave  the  animal  at  a  certain  stable  in  the  town,  but  upon  reach- 
ing the  place  found  that  the  stage  was  several  miles  upon  its 
way.  This  was  a  serious  disappointment  to  the  ardent  youth, 
and  a  friend,  seeing  his  trouble,  urged  him  to  ride  to  the  next 
town,  where  he  could  come  up  with  the  vehicle,  promising  to 
send  after  the  borrowed  horse  and  return  him  to  his  owner. 
The  temptation  to  accept  this  offer  was  great.  The  roads  were 
ancle  deep  in  mud,  and  the  stage  rapidly  rolling  on  its  way ;  the 
only  obstacle  was  his  promise  to  leave  the  horse  at  Clarksburg. 
He  declined  the  friendly  offer,  delivered  the  horse  at  the  ap- 
pointed place,  and  shouldering  his  baggage  set  off  on  foot  through 
the  mud  to  catch  the  stage.  He  came  up  with  it,  and  proceeded 
to  Washington.  This  occurred  in  June,  1842.  Jackson's  ap- 
plication was  successful,  and  on  the  first  of  July  in  the  same 
year  he  was  admitted  a  cadet  at  West  Point. 


12  LITE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

CHAPTER  II. 

CADET   AT   WEST   POINT. 

SUCH  is  a  glimpse  of  Jackson,  the  orphan  boy,  at  home  in 
Virginia.  We  have  next  to  look  upon  the  country-bred  youth, 
clad  in  the  neat  uniform  of  the  West  Point  cadet,  and  making 
indefatigable  exertions  to  keep  up  with  his  class.  His  studies 
were  algebra,  geometry,  and  French,  and  in  the  same  class  with 
him  were  Generals  McClellan,  Foster,  Reno,  Stoneman,  Couch, 
and  Gibbon  of  the  United  States  army  afterwards,  and  Gener- 
als A.  P.  Hill,  Pickett,  Maury,  D.  R.  Jones,  W.  D.  Smith,  and 
Wilcox  of  the  Confederate  States  army. 

It  may  encourage  others  to  know  that  his  progress  was  slow. 
At  the  end  of  the  first  year  his  standing  in  a  class  of  seventy 
was  45  in  mathematics,  70  in  French,  and  51  in  general  merit, 
with  15  demerits.  During  the  second  year  he  made  visible 
progress,  however.  At  the  examination  he  stood  18  in  mathe- 
matics, 52  in  French,  68  in  drawing,  55  in  engineering,  and  30 
in  general  merit,  with  26  demerits.  At  the  end  of  his  final  year 
he  was  12  in  engineering,  5  in  ethics,  11  in  artillery,  21  in 
infantry  tactics,  11  in  mineralogy  and  geology ;  had  7  demer- 
its, and  his  graduating  standing,  including  all  previous  draw- 
backs, was  17.  His  "general  standing"  in  his  first  year  had 
been  51 ;  in  his  second  30  ;  in  his  third  20  ;  in  his  fourth  it  was 
17.  One  of  his  companions  declared,  with  apparent  justice,  that 
if  he  remained  four  years  longer  he  would  graduate  at  the  head 
of  his  class.  This  progress  had  been  the  result  of  hard  study. 
Of  genius,  in  any  form,  we  find  no  traces  in  him  at  this  period. 
All  was  resolute  toil.  He  did  not  penetrate  the  subject  before 
him  at  a  glance,  but  mastered  it  by  laborious  application,  break- 
ing the  obdurate  husk  only  by  incessant  blows.  Every  hour 
brought  progress.  What  he  once  acquired  was  drilled  into  his 
mind,  and  every  step  which  he  ascended  was  solid  under  his  feet. 


CADET   AT   WEST   POINT.  If. 

Of  the  youth's  personal  appearance  and  deportment  at  this 
period  of  his  life  some  traits  are  remembered.  He  was  not 
social  in  his  habits,  and  made  no  figure  in  society.  His  natural 
character  and  his  position  in  life  were  both  opposed  to  the  fun, 
frolic,  and  abandon  of  the  volatile  youths  at  great  public  schools. 
He  had  come  to  West  Point  to  secure  an  education  which  would 
enable  him  to  rise  from  his  "  low  estate  "  of  dependence  upon 
his  relations,  or  the  distasteful  drudgery  of  his  office  of  consta 
ble,  and  from  this  great  object  he  permitted  no  social  enjoy- 
ments to  divert  him.  The  self-denial  was  not  difficult,  however. 
Jackson  was  not  fond  of  society,  and  made  no  impression  in  it. 
He  was  neither  gay  nor  witty,  and  had  little  or  no  humor.  In 
character  and  appearance  he  was  sedate  and  earnest ;  in  man- 
ner shy  and  ungraceful.  The  recollection  is  still  preserved  of 
many  of  his  personal  peculiarities — his  simplicity  and  absence 
of  suspicion  when  all  around  him  were  laughing  at  some  of  his 
odd  ways  ;  his  grave  expression  and  air  of  innocent  inquiry 
when  some  jest  excited  general  merriment,  and  he  could  not  see 
the  point ;  his  solitary  habits  and  self-contained  deportment ; 
his  absence  of  mind,  awkwardness  of  gait,  and  evident  indiffer- 
ence to  every  species  of  amusement.  These  eccentricities  at- 
tracted attention,  and  were  the  subjects  of  jesting  comment ;  but 
this  comment  was  not  ill-natured.  The  kindness  and  simplicity 
of  the  hard-working  youth  seem  to  have  made  him  many  friends, 
and  disarmed  all  hostility. 

In  relation  to  his  intellectual  faculties,  his  associates  are 
unanimous  in  declaring  that  he  exhibited  no  indications  what- 
ever of  his  future  career.  They  gave  him  credit  for  an  amount 
of  industry  and  energy  which  would  enable  him  to  accomplish 
much,  but  there  is  nothing  to  show  that  his  most  intimate  friends 
at  this  time  suspected  him  of  possessing  any  thing  resembling 
military  genius. 


14  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

CHAPTER  m. 

LIEUTENANT    OF   ARTILLERY   IN   MEXICO. 

JACKSON  graduated  and  received  the  appointment  of  brevet 
second  lieutenant  of  artillery  on  July  1,  1846.  He  left  West 
Point  at  a  fortunate  moment.  The  United  States  were  at  war 
with  Mexico.  All  the  roving  and  adventurous  classes  of  so- 
ciety swarmed  toward  the  Rio  Grande,  fired  by  the  fancy  of 
picturesque  warfare  in  a  romantic  country ;  and  it  is  probable 
that  Jackson,  then  but  twenty-two,  shared  this  general  excite- 
ment. He  was  assigned  to  the  First  Regiment  of  United  States 
Artillery,  then  serving  under  General  Taylor  in  Mexico,  and 
proceeded  immediately  to  join  his  command.  It  is  known  that 
he  had  a  strong  desire  for  active  service,  but  this  craving  was 
not  for  some  time  gratified.  The  regiment  remained  inactive 
until  the  spring  of  1847  ;  but  active  operations  then  commenced, 
and  the  battery  to  which  Jackson  was  attached  was  sent  to  take 
part  in  the  assault  on  Vera  Cruz.  About  the  same  time  he  re- 
ceived his  appointment  as  second  lieutenant,  and  commanded  a 
battery  of  siege  guns  during  the  bombardment.  His  conduct 
under  fire  for  the  first  time  must  have  been  creditable.  In 
August,  for  "  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  at  the  siege 
of  Vera  Cruz,"  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieu- 
*enant. 

After  the  fall  of  this  fortress,  the  American  army  advanced 
upon  the  city  of  Mexico.  All  Jackson's  aspirations  now  pointed 
to  a  position  in  the  light  artillery.  The  command  of  heavy 
guns  did  not  suit  his  temperament,  and  his  preference  for  ser- 
vice in  the  field  was  soon  gratified.  Captain  John  B.  Magruder 
led  the  storming  party  at  Cerro  Gordo  and  captured  a  Mexican 
battery,  which  General  Scott  thereupon  presented  to  him  as 
a  reward  for  his  gallantry ;  and  Jackson  immediately  applied 
for  a  position  under  Magruder. 


LIEUTENANT   OF   ARTILLERY   IN   MEXICO. 

"  I  wanted  to  see  active  service,"  he  said  in  after  years,  "  to 
be  near  the  enemy  and  in  the  fight ;  and  when  I  heard  that 
John  Magruder  had  got  his  battery,  I  bent  all  my  energies  to 
be  with  him,  for  I  knew  if  any  fighting  was  to  be  done,  Ma* 
gruder  would  be  *  on  hand.' " 

He  succeeded  in  securing  his  transfer,  and  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  assault  on  the  enemy's  intrenched  camp  at  Con- 
treras,  and  in  the  stubborn  struggle  which  followed  at  Chur 
ubusco.  "  My  fire  was  opened,"  wrote  Captain  Magruder, 
"  and  continued  with  great  rapidity  for  about  an  hour.  In  a 
few  moments  Lieutenant  Jackson,  commanding  the  second  sec- 
tion of  the  battery,  who  had  opened  a  fire  upon  the  enemy's  works 
from  a  position  on  the  right,  hearing  our  own  fire  still  further 
in  front,  advanced  in  handsome  style,  and  kept  up  the  fire  with 

great  briskness  and  effect Lieutenant  Jackson's  conduct 

was  equally  conspicuous  throughout  the  whole  day,  and  I  cannot 
too  highly  commend  him  to  the  major-general's  favorable  con- 
sideration." 

This  report  was  addressed  to  "  Captain  J.  Hooker,  A.  A.  G.," 
afterwards  General  Hooker. 

In  the  report  of  General  Twiggs  the  young  lieutenant  was 
mentioned  for  "  gallant  services  ;  "  and  for  "  gallant  and  meri- 
torious conduct  in  the  battles  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco,"  he 
was  bre vetted  captain.  On  the  8th  of  September  came  the  vic- 
tory of  El  Molino  del  Rey ;  and  on  the  13th  the  city  of  Mexico 
was  stormed  and  taken. 

Jackson  had  borne  his  fair  share  of  the  toils  and  dangers  of 
the  campaign,  and  had  secured  high  commendation.  The  source 
and  character  of  this  commendation  place  his  merit  beyond 
question.  General  Scott  twice  mentioned  him  in  his  report,  and 
declared  that  he  had  "  gained  merited  praise."  General  Worth 
wrote  :  "  After  advancing  some  four  hundred  yards  we  came  to 
a  battery  which  had  been  assailed  by  a  portion  of  Magruder's 
field-guns — particularly  the  section  under  the  gallant  Lieutenant 
Jackson,  who,  although  he  had  lost  most  of  his  horses  and  many 
-of  his  men,  continued  chivalrously  at  his  post,  combating  with 


16  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

noble  courage."  General  Pillow  wrote  :  "  Captain  Magruder*s 
field-battery,  one  section  of  which  was  served  with  great  gal- 
lantry by  himself,  and  the  other  by  his  brave  lieutenant,  Jackson, 
in  the  face  of  a  galling  fire  from  the  enemy's  intrenched  posi- 
tions, did  valuable  service  preparatory  to  the  general  assault.  .  . 
The  advanced  section  of  the  battery,  under  the  command  of  the 
brave  Lieutenant  Jackson,  was  dreadfully  cut  up  and  almost 
disabled."  Captain  Magruder  made  mention  of  the  young  man's 
services  throughout  his  report,  and  wrote :  "  I  beg  leave  to  call 
the  attention  of  the  major-general  commanding  the  division  to 
the  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Jackson  of  the  First  Artillery.  If 
devotion,  industry,  talent,  and  gallantry  are  the  highest  qualities 
of  a  soldier,  then  he  is  entitled  to  the  distinction  which  their 
profession  confers." 

This  warm  testimony  to  the  young  soldier's  skill  and  courage 
was  not  disregarded.  For  "  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  in 
the  battle  of  Chepultepec,  September  13,  1847,"  he  was  bre- 
vetted  major.  In  less  than  a  year  he  had  risen  from  brevet  sec- 
ond lieutenant  to  brevet  major,  distinguishing  himself  so  greatly 
in  every  action  as  to  attract  the  attention,  and  secure  the  espe- 
cial notice  of  his  generals,  including  the  commander-in-chief. 
"  The  brave  Lieutenant  Jackson  '* — "  The  gallant  Lieutenant 
Jackson" — his  "devotion,  industry,  talent,  and  gallantry" — 
these  tributes  to  his  merits  as  a  soldier  had  been  showered  upon 
him  by  some  of  the  bravest  and  most  famous  officers  of  the 
army ;  and  such  praise  must  have  thrilled  to  the  very  depths  of 
a  heart,  at  that  time,  if  not  afterwards,  passionately  sensitive  to 
military  glory. 

An  incident,  which  appears  to  rest  upon  good  authority,  will 
serve  to  convey  an  idea  of  the  young  lieutenant's  coolness  and 
nerve.  His  section  had  opened  fire  on  the  enemy's  intrench- 
ments,  and  drawn  upon  itself  a  whirlwind  of  iron  which  tore 
man  and  horse  to  pieces.  Men  fell  around  the  guns  at  every 
moment,  and  the  fire  of  the  enemy  at  last  became  so  terrible 
that  the  bravest  of  the  cannoneers  fled  from  the  pieces.  Only 
Jackson  and  a  sergeant  were  left,  and  dismounting,  the  youthful 


LIEUTENANT    OF   AETILLEKY    IN    MEXICO.  17 

lieutenant  took  the  sponge  staff,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  his 
sergeant,  began  to  load  and  fire  with  immovable  phlegm  and 
coolness.  He  was  thus  engaged  when  Magruder  rode  up  and 
ordered  him  to  withdraw  his  guns ;  but  against  this  Jackson 
strongly  remonstrated.  He  could  hold  his  ground,  he  declared, 
and  if  General  "Worth  would  only  send  him  fifty  regulars,  he 
would  silence  the  enemy's  batteries  and  render  their  capture 
easy.  Magruder  acquiesced,  the  men  were  sent,  and  Jackson 
immediately  advanced  his  section,  opening  with  a  more  rapid 
and  destructive  fire  than  before.  The  opposing  batteries  were 
silenced,  the  works  were  charged,  and  the  American  troops  were 
soon  occupying  them. 

On  another  occasion  when  his  men  ran  from  the  pieces,  and 
crouched  behind  a  bank  for  shelter  from  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery, 
Jackson  is  said  to  have  advanced  into  the  open  space,  which  was 
every  moment  being  ploughed  up  with  shot  and  shell,  calling  out 
with  great  coolness,  "  Come  on  !  This  is  nothing.  You  see  they 
can't  hurt  me  !  " 

Long  after  the  war,  in  1858,  a  gay  youth  at  Lexington 
asked  Jackson  one  day  if  one  of  these  anecdotes  was  true,  and 
receiving  a  reply  in  the  affirmative,  added : 

"  That  was  a  very  hot  place,  wasn't  it,  Major? " 

"  Yes,  very  hot,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Why  didn't  you  run,  Major  !  "  asked  another  as  the  laugh 
ran  round  the  circle.  With  a  smile  Jackson  replied  : 

"  I  was  not  ordered  to  do  so.  If  I  had  been  ordered  to  run, 
I  would  have  done  so  ;  but  I  was  directed  to  hold  my  position, 
and  I  had  no  right  to  abandon  it." 

Such  was  the  explanation  of  the  ex-artillerist ;  but  we  sus- 
pect that  the  character  of  his  audience,  or  self-deception,  led  him 
to  dwell  too  exclusively  on  the  motive  of  duty.  That  motive 
may  have  been  controlling  with  him,  and  the  question  of  his 
young  pupil  gave  him  an  excellent  opportunity  to  enlarge  upon 
it,  and  "  point  a  moral."  But  behind  the  composed  mask  of  the 
grave  Lexington  professor  we  think  we  can  discern  the  grim 
smile  of  the  artillerist  of  Contreras,  Churubusco,  and  Chepul- 
2 


18    '  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

tepee.  "Whatever  may  have  been  the  sentiment  of  Major  Jack- 
son of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  Lieutenant  Jackson  of  tha 
United  States  Army  in  Mexico  loved  fighting.  He  loved  it  to 
the  last  with  all  his  piety  and  kindliness  ;  and  for  the  simple  rea- 
son that  his  organization  was  essentially  dominant,  combative, 
delighting  in  antagonism.  Until  greatly  changed  by  religious 
feeling,  he  seems  to  have  loved  fighting  for  its  own  sake  ;  and  it 
is  certain  that  he  performed  his  military  duties  in  Mexico  with 
the  greatest  gusto.  He  does  not  seem  at  that  time  to  have  been 
at  all  pious.  He  was  a  young  soldier  leading  a  soldier's  life,  in 
the  atmosphere  of  the  camp ;  busy  with  many  things ;  full  of 
ambition  ;  in  good  health  ;  and  delighted  with  this  "  best  of  all 
possible  worlds  "  in  which  he  had  become  a  major  of  artillery 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  To  have  his  battery  in  readiness 
for  action  at  a  moment's  notice — to  get  the  best  position,  stand 
to  his  guns,  do  the  enemy  the  largest  amount  of  damage,  and 
thereby  secure  "honorable  mention"  and  a  brevet — this  was 
probably  regarded  as  the  chief  end  of  man  by  the  .young  and 
ardent  artillerist. 

It  may  be  said  that  there  was  nothing  very  grand  about  all 
thi^  but  it  is  something  to  be  a  good  soldier,  and  Jackson  cer- 
tainly was  such.  He  worked  hard  in  camp,  and  fought  hard  in 
the  field.  Devotion,  industry,  talent,  and  gallantry  are  not  pos- 
sessed by  every  one ;  but  Magruder,  who  knew  Jackson  inti- 
mately, declared  that  he  possessed  them. 

He  was  more  than  a  good  soldier  afterwards — he  was  a  very 
great  man.  But  that  was  when  a  sublimer  thirst  than  that  for 
human  glory  had  made  him  a  true  "  Soldier  of  the  Cross." 


PROFESSOR   AT   LEXINGTON.  19 

CHAPTER  IV. 

PROFESSOR    AT    LEXINGTON. 

THE  capture  of  the  city  of  Mexico  ended  the  war,  and  peace 
was  soon  declared  between  the  two  countries. 

The  United  States  forces  were  withdrawn,  and  we  next  hear 
of  Major  Jackson  in  Florida,  where  the  remnant  of  the  Indian 
tribes  formerly  inhabiting  that  region  still  carried  on  hostilities 
against  the  Government.  Here  his  health  gave  way.  He  had 
never  been  a  person  of  very  robust  constitution,  though  capable 
of  enduring  great  fatigue,  and  the  swampy  airs  of  Florida  soon 
told  upon  a  frame  subjected  to  a  heavy  strain  in  the  campaigns 
of  Mexico. 

This  feeble  state  of  health  was  probably  the  main  reason 
which  induced  him  to  accept  a  proposition  made  to  him  early  in 
the  year  1851,  to  become  a  candidate  for  the  chair  of  Natural 
and  Experimental  Philosophy  at  the  Virginia  Military  Institute. 
This  step  involved  a  relinquishment  of  all  the  dreams  of  military 
glory  which  had  so  long  filled  his  mind.  He  was  called  upon  to 
bid  farewell  to  that  "  pride,  pomp,  and  circumstance  of  glorious 
var"  which  he  loved  ;  to  hang  up  the  sword  battered  in  glorious 
acounter  ;  to  close  his  eyes  to  all  the  bright  hopes  of  the  future  ; 
and,  his  "  occupation  gone,"  settle  down  into  a  simple  professor, 
drilling  knowledge  into  the  minds  of  his  pupils  year  after  year, 
with  no  wars,  no  battles,  no  thunder  of  the  cannon  any  more. 
It  must  have  been  a  hard  struggle  with  the  young  soldier.  The 
camp  had  now  become  his  home :  the  service  his  chosen  occu- 
pation, in  which  were  centred  all  his  joys  and  aspirations. 
He  must  consent  to  sever  at  a  single  blow  the  tie  so  firmly  knit : 
to  commence  life  afresh,  and  bending  all  his  energies  in  a  differ- 
ent direction,  make  usefulness  his  aim,  no  longer  military  glory. 
His  health,  or  other  circumstances,  however  decided  him.  He 
wrote  from  Fort  Meade,  Florida,  February  25,  1851,  to  Colonel 


20  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

(now  General)  Francis  H.  Smith,  superintendent  of  the  institute,, 
acquiescing  in  the  proposition  to  bring  his  name  before  the  Board 
of  Visitors,  and  said  :  "  Though  strong  ties  bind  me  to  the  army, 
yet  I  cannot  consent  to  decline  so  flattering  an  offer."  Other 
names  had  been  submitted  to  the  Board  by  the  Faculty  of  West 
Point,  all  distinguished  for  high  scholarship  and  gallant  services 
— among  them  Generals  McClellan,  Reno,  and  Rosecrans,  of 
the  Northern  army,  and  General  G.  W.  Smith  of  the  Confed- 
erate army.  McClellan,  Reno,  Rosecrans,  Jackson  !  Such  was 
the  occasion  upon  which  these  afterwards  celebrated  athletes 
came  in  collision.  The  Virginian  unhorsed  all  his  opponents, 
and,  March  28,  1851,  was  elected. 

We  have  stated  that  the  condition  of  Jackson's  health  was 
probably  the  controlling  motive  for  his  relinquishment  of  active 
service  in  the  field.  It  is  proper  to  add,  however,  that  he  stated 
to  his  intimates  that  one  of  his  objects  was  to  keep  his  mind 
fresh,  especially  in  artillery  tactics,  in  order  to  "  embrace  any 
opportunity  that  might  offer,  for  obtaining  command  in  the 
event  of  war."  Whether  he  then  contemplated  the  great  col- 
lision between  the  North  and  the  South,  is  not  stated.  The  au- 
thority for  the  above  statement  adds :  "  He  seemed  to  feel  that 
he  was  born  for  command  ;  "  but  at  a  later  period,  these  martial 
longings  are  said  to  have  greatly  diminished.  He  had  become 
a  professor  of  religion,  and  "  would  have  engaged  in  no  military 
service  but  one  really  defensive  ;  and  while  desirous  of  honorable 
regard,  his  great  aim  was  duty — good  to  be  done — an  approving 
conscience,  and  the  glory  of  God." 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1851,  Major  Jackson  entered  upon 
his  duties  as  Professor  of  Natural  and  Experimental  Philosophy 
and  Instructor  of  Artillery  in  the  Virginia  Military  Institute 
near  Lexington.  Whatever  doubts  he  may  have  had  about  his 
new  duties,  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  the  locality  was  a 
change  for  the  better.  Lexington  is  a  town  situated  in  the 
county  of  Rockbridge,  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia,  surrounded  by 
blue  mountains,  and  in  the  midst  of  smiling  fields.  Nowhere 
can  be  found  a  purer  air,  or  a  more  charming  landscape.  It 


PROFESSOR   AT   LEXINGTON.  21 

was  a  good  exchange  for  the  miasmatic  atmosphere  of  the  low 
grounds  of  Florida,  fruitful  in  fevers,  and  stealing  away  the  life 
of  the  unacclimated  stranger.  Such  was  Jackson's  new  home, 
and  life  must  have  had  a  gay  and  smiling  appearance  to  him 
there  from  the  beginning.  We  know  that  the  region  soon 
became  dearer  to  him  than  all  others. 

Here  were  spent  the  most  tranquil  and  serenely  happy  hours 
of  a  manhood  which  commenced  and  ended  amid  the  storms  of 
battle ;  and  here  were  first  revealed  to  him  the  full  glory  and 
sublimity  of  that  faith  in  God,  which  soon  became  the  master 
element  of  his  being.  At  Lexington  he  was  happy  as  husband, 
father,  friend,  and  citizen ;  and  to  this  Spot  of  earth  the  rigid 
form  of  the  dead  soldier,  was  sent  back,  and,  borne  on  a  caisson 
of  the  cadet  battery,  committed  to  the  earth.  He  had  asked 
them  to  bury  him  there,  to  let  his  bones  repose  in  the  dear 
earth  to  which  his  thoughts  recurred  with  so  much  tenderness. 
On  his  death-bed,  when  his  hours  were  numbered,  and  his  spirit 
drifted  slowly  toward  eternity,  the  pale  lips  opened,  and  he  mur- 
mured in  a  whisper : 

"  Bury  me  in  Lexington,  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia  !  " 

Two  important  events  mark  this  period  of  Jackson's  life — 
his  marriage  and  profession  of  religion.  He  married  Miss 
Junkin,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Junkin,  President  of  Wasliing- 
ton  College,  This  lady  did  not  long  survive  her  marriage,  and 
her  only  child,  a  daughter,  died  in  infancy.  Several  years 
after  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  was  again  married  to  Miss 
Morrison  of  North  Carolina.  By  this  marriage  he  had  one 
•child,  Julia,  born  a  few  months  before  his  death. 

Jackson  became  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
the  town,  then  under  the  charge  of  an  excellent  old  man,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  White.  The  circumstances  leading  to  this  public  pro- 
fession of  Christian  faith  are  unknown  to  the  present  writer ; 
but  it  is  certain  that  he  speedily  became  an  active  and  prominent 
member  of  the  church,  and  filled,  during  his  residence  at  Lex- 
ington, important  secular  positions  in  it.  Every  Sunday,  with 
military  regularity,  the  figure  of  the  Professor  was  seen  in  hia 


22  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

pew  at  the  Presbyterian  church,  hymn-book  in  hand,  his  ear~ 
nest  countenance  turned  up  to  the  pulpit  with  close  attention. 
Religious  duties  soon  became  the  controlling  occupation  of  his 
life ;  the  society  of  good  men  and  women  his  chief  relaxation 
and  greatest  source  of  pleasure.  All  who  know  any  thing  of 
Jackson,  and  observed  him  in  private  then  and  during  his 
period  of  command  in  the  field  thereafter,  will  remember  the 
marked  preference  which  he  displayed  for  the  society  of  clergy- 
men, and  the  childlike  fondness,  almost  tenderness,  which  he 
exhibited  toward  the  pious  ladies  whom  he  encountered  on  his 
marches.  His  reputation  as  an  earnest  and  devoted  Christian 
had  singularly  endeared  him  to  these  gray-haired  matrons,  and 
he  repaid  their  attentions  with  a  respect  and  deference  which 
was  beautiful  to  behold.  The  present  writer  has  seen  him,  after 
a  long  and  exhausting  march,  when  he  had  scarcely  tasted  food 
for  twenty-four  hours,  forget  the  tempting  supper  before  him, 
and  give  his  whole  attention  to  the  aged  kdy  who  sat  beside 
him.  This  spectacle  was  familiar  to  those  who  lived  with  him. 
Strangers  may  have  found  in  it  a  topic  for  amusement  and  jests  ; 
but  to  the  writer  of  these  pages  it  seemed  indicative  of  that  sim- 
plicity and  goodness  which  were  the  natural  instincts  of  his 
character. 

Any  discussion  of  the  peculiar  religious  views  of  Jackson  must 
be  left  to  abler  hands  than  those  of  the  present  writer.  He  was 
popularly  spoken  of  as  a  "  fatalist " — which  means,  if  it  means 
any  thing,  one  who  believes  that  what  will  6e,  will  be.  It  is 
sufficient  to  say  of  Jackson  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  strongly  embraced  the  doctrines  of  predesti- 
nation and  Providential  supervision.  It  has  been  said  that  he 
cherished  an  unfailing  "  confidence  in  his  destiny,"  and  believed 
that  he  had  "  a  distinct  mission  of  duty  in  which  he  should  be 
spared  for  the  ends  of  Providence."  This  may  be  true ;  but  it 
is  certain  that  his  motto  was,  "  Do  your  duty,  and  leave  the  rest 
to  God."  His  faith  was  not  speculative,  but  practical  and  liv- 
ing. His  earnestness  of  temperament  was  carried  into  religious 
affairs,  and  he  was  averse  to  all  sentiment  which  did  not  prove; 


PROFESSOR   AT   LEXINGTON.  23 

its  genuineness  by  action.  With  him  his  Christian  faith  was  a 
practical  influence,  shaping  his  habits  and  life.  The  reality  of 
his  feeling  was  shown  every  day,  and  no  adverse  influences 
seemed  to  affect  it.  In  camp  and  surrounded  by  the  many  dis- 
tracting cares  of  command  his  habits  of  meditation  and  prayer 
remained  unaltered,  and  he  was  as  devout  an  observer  of  re- 
ligious exercises  as  in  the  days  of  peace.  He  was  generally 
regarded  as  sectarian  in  his  views,  and  one  of  his  nicknames 
was  u  The  Blue  Light  Elder."  But  this  popular  belief  seems  to 
have  been  entirely  erroneous.  He  was  a  devoted  but  not 
bigoted  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  ;  and  a  most  intelli- 
gent staff  officer,  long  serving  near  his  person,  assured  the 
present  writer  that  he  had  no  such  exclusive  feeling  whatever. 
A  letter  to  Dr.  Hoge  on  the  subject  of  army  chaplains,  in  the 
spring  of  1863,  is  a  strong  proof  of  this ;  and  those  who  were 
thrown  in  personal  contact  with  him  during  his  military  career, 
will  not  easily  be  convinced  that  his  just,  liberal,  and  Catholic 
intellect  could  have  hampered  itself  within  the  narrow  bounda- 
ries of  sectarianism. 

We  pass  now  to  his  personal  traits  and  habits.  Well-mean- 
ing persons  have  drawn  a  wholly  incorrect  likeness  of  Jackson 
at  this  period  of  his  life.  Misled  by  admiration,  and  yielding  to 
the  temptation  to  eulogy,  they  have  bestowed  upon  Professor 
Jackson  every  moral  and  physical  grace,  and  even  his  eccentrici- 
ties have  been  toned  down  into  winning  ways,  original  and 
characteristic,  which  only  made  their  possessor  more  graceful 
and  charming  than  before.  We  are  sorry  to  say  that  this  is  all 
fancy.  Jackson  was  the  farthest  possible  removed  from  any 
thing  graceful ;  and  as  the  first  merit  of  any  biography  is  ac- 
curacy, we  shall  endeavor  to  lay  before  the  reader  a  truthful 
sketch  of  the  real  form  seen  moving  to  and  fro,  on  the  streets  of 
Lexington,  between  the  years  1851  and  1861. 

"  It  was  the  figure  of  a  tall,  gaunt,  awkward  individual,  wear- 
ing a  gray  uniform,  and  apparently  moving  by  separate  and  dis- 
tinct acts  of  volition.  This  stiff  and  unbending  figure  passed 
over  the  ground  with  a  sort  of  stride,  as  though  measuring  the 


2-i  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

distance  from  one  given  point  to  another  ;  and  those  who  followed 
its  curious  movements,  saw  it  pause  at  times,  apparently  from 
having  reached  the  point  desired.  The  eyes  of  the  individual  at 
such  moments  were  fixed  intently  upon  the  ground  ;  his  lips 
moved  in  soliloquy ;  the  absent  and  preoccupied  gaze  and  gen- 
eral expression  of  the  features,  plainly  showed  a  profound  un- 
consciousness of  "  place  and  time."  It  was  perfectly  obvious 
that  the  mind  of  the  military-looking  personage  in  the  gray  coat, 
was  busy  upon  some  problem  entirely  disconnected  from  his 
actual  surroundings. ;  The  fact  of  his  presence  at  Lexington,  in 
the  commonwealth  of  Virginia,  had  evidently  disappeared  from 
his  consciousness ;  the  figures  moving  around  him  were  mere 
phantasmagoria :  he  had  travelled  in  search  of  some  principle 
of  philosophy,  or  some  truth  in  theology,  quite  out  of  the  real, 
workaday  world,  and  deep  into  the  land  of  dreams.  If  you 
spoke  to  him  at  such  times,  he  awoke  as  it  were  from  sleep, 
and  looked  into  your  face  with  an  air  of  simplicity  and  inquiry, 
which  sufficiently  proved  the  sudden  transition  which  he  had 
made  from  the  world  of  thought  to  that  of  reality .V 

In  lecturing  to  his  class,  his  manner  was  grave,  earnest,  full 
of  military  brevity,  and  destitute  of  all  the  graces  of  the  speaker. 
Business-like,  systematic,  somewhat  stern,  with  an  air  of  rigid 
rule,  as  though  the  matter  at  issue  was  of  the  utmost  importance, 
and  he  was  entrusted  with  the  responsibility  of  seeing  that  due 
attention  was  paid  to  it — he  did  not  make  a  very  favorable  im- 
pression upon  the  volatile  youths  who  sat  at  the  feet  of  this 
military  Gamaliel.  They  listened  'decorously  to  the  grave  Pro- 
fessor, but,  once  dismissed  from  his  presence,  took  their  revenge 
by  a  thousand  jests  upon  his  peculiarities  of  mind  and  demeanor. 
His  oddities  were  the  subject  of  incessant,  jokes  :  his  eccentric 
ways  were  dwelt  upon  with  all  the  eloquence  and  sarcastic  gusto 
which  characterize  the  gay  conversation  of  young  men  discussing 
an  unpopular  teacher.  No  idiosyncrasy  of  the  Professor  was  lost 
sight  of.  His  stiff,  angular  figure  ;  the  awkward  movement  of 
his  body  ;  his  absent  and  "  grum "  demeanor  ;  his  exaggerated 
ami  apparentlv  absurd  devotion  to  military  regularity  ;  his  weari- 


PROFESSOR   AT   LEXINGTON.  25 

some  exactions  of  a  similar  observance  on  their  part : — -that 
general  oddity,  eccentricity,  and  singularity  in  moving,  talking, 
thinking,  and  acting  peculiar  to  himself — all  these  were  described 
on  a  thousand  occasions,  and  furnished  unfailing  food  for  laughter. 
They  called  him  "  Old  Tom  Jackson  ;  "  and  pointing  significantly 
to  their  foreheads,  said  he  was  "  not  quite  right  there"  Some  in- 
clined to  the  belief  that  he  was  only  a  great  eccentric ;  but  others 
declared  him  "  crazy."  Those  who  had  experienced  the  full 
weight  of  his  Professional  baton — who  had  been  reprimanded  be- 
fore the  class,  or  "  reported"  to  the  superintendent  for  punishment 
or  dismissal — called  him  "  Fool  Tom  Jackson." 

These  details  are  not  very  heroic,  and  detract  considerably 
from  that  dignified  outline  which  eulogistic  writers  upon  Jack- 
son have  drawn.  But  they  are  true.  Nothing  is  better  estab- 
lished than  the  fact  that  the  man  to  whom  General  Lee  wrote, 
*'  Could  I  have  directed  events,  I  should  have  chosen  for  the 
good  of  the  country  to  have  been  disabled  in  your  stead,"  and 
of  whom  the  London  Times  said,  "  That  mixture  of  daring  and 
judgment,  which  is  the  mark  of  '  Heaven  born '  Generals,  dis- 
tinguished him  beyond  any  man  of  his  time" — nothing  is  more 
certain,  we  say,  than  that  this  man  was  sneered  at  as  a  fool,  and 
on  many  occasions  stigmatized  as  insane. 

It  is  doubtless  true,  however,  that  some  of  the  youths,  of 
more  generous  disposition  or  penetrating  judgment,  did  not  share 
in  this  general  opinion.  They  saw  in  the  young  Professor  orig- 
inality rather  than  eccentricity  of  mind.  They  could  ack^nvl- 
edge  the  peculiarities  of  his  views  and  opinions,  and  the  singu- 
larity of  some  of  his  habits,  without  sharing  the  popular 
impression  that  some  wheel  or  crank  of  his  mental  machinery 
was  out  of  order.  Upon  one  point,  however,  there  seems  to 
have  been  a  general  concurrence  :  the  young  teacher's  possession 
of  an  indomitable  fearlessness  and  integrity  in  the  discharge  of 
every  duty.  His  worst  enemies  never  ventured  to  say  that  he 
did  not  walk  the  straight  path  of  right,  and  administer  his  offi- 
cial duties  without  fear,  favor,  or  affection.  They  were  forced 
to  recognize  the  fact  that  this  stiff  military  machine  measured 


26  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

out  justice  to  all  alike,  irrespective  of  persons,  and  could  not  be 
turned  aside  from  the  direct  course  by  any  influences  around 
him.  The  cadets  laughed  at  him,  but  they  were  afraid  of  him. 
They  agreed,  by  common  consent,  that  it  was  time  thrown  away 
to  write  excuses  for  a  "  report"  made  by  Major  Jackson.  The 
faculty,  from  long  experience,  had  come  to  understand  that 
when  Major  Jackson  reported  a  cadet  he  deserved  punishment, 
and  the  consequence  was  that  although  the  young  men  derided 
his  peculiarities,  and  laughed  in  private  at  his  odd  ways,  they 
felt  that  he  was  their  master,  and  yielded  full  obedience  to  his 
orders. 

Such  was  the  ex-artillerist  turned  professor.  From  his 
functions  of  professor  in  the  school-room  he  would  pass  to  those 
of  instructor  of  artillery  on  the  parade  ground.  Here  he  was 
more  in  his  element.  He  was  called  upon  to  teach  the  myster- 
ies of  that  arm  of  the  service  which  he  loved  above  all  others  ; 
and  the  proficiency  of  the  cadets  in  drill  and  all  the  evolutions 
of  the  battery  was  soon  a  subject  of  remark.  Jackson  took 
great  interest  in  these  drills,  especially  when  blank  cartridges 
were  used.  "  An  ex-Cadet,"  in  his  interesting  account  of  this 
portion  of  Jackson's  life,  says :  "As  soon  as  the  sound  of  the 
guns  would  fall  upon  his  ears,  a  change  would  seem  to  come 
over  Major  Jackson.  He  would  grow  more  erect ;  the  grasp 
upon  his  sabre  would  tighten ;  the  quiet  eyes  would  flash ;  the 
large  nostrils  would  dilate,  and  the  calm,  grave  face  would  glow 
witlP  the  proud  spirit  of  the  warrior.  I  have  been  frequently 
struck  with  this,  and  have  often  called  the  attention  of  others. 
to  it." 

We  have  thus  presented  the  figure  of  Jackson  under  two 
or  three  aspects — as  the  absent-looking  thinker  moving,  lost  in 
meditation,  through  the  streets  of  Lexington ;  the  grave  pro- 
fessor in  the  lecturer's  desk,  and  the  officer  of  artillery,  with 
sabre  at  his  side,  directing  the  drill  and  drawling  out  his  com- 
mands in  the  long,  singsong  fashion  peculiar  to  the  graduates  of 
West  Point.  His  appearance  on  Sunday  will  conclude  our  out- 
line lie  attended  church  with  unfailing  regularity.  Punctual 


PROFESSOR    AT    LEXINGTON  27 

to  the  moment,  the  form  of  the  Professor  was  seen  to  enter  church, 
decorously  approach  the  familiar  pew,  and  enter  with  grave 
respect  in  his  whole  demeanor.  Book  in  hand,  he  followed  the 
words  of  the  hymn  sung  hy  the  congregation,  and  at  the  signal 
for  prayer  rose  erect,  his  tall  figure  remaining  as  motionless  as 
a  statue  until  the  prayer  was  finished.  After  the  service  he  re- 
traced his  steps  with  decorous  gravity  and  retired  to  his  quar- 
ters, to  return  again  with  the  same  punctuality,  and  conduct 
himself  with  the  same  solemn  respect,  at  the  evening  service. 
The  hours  of  Sunday  not  spent  in  church  were  given  up  to- 
religious  reading,  meditation,  and  prayer  in  his  study  or  in  the 
bosom  of  his  family. 

Thus  passed,  in  a  routine  of  duty,  barren  and  dull  to  the 
beholder,  but  doubtless  interesting  to  him,  a  period  of  nearly 
ten  years.  Jackson's  health  was  still  delicate,  and  he  suffered 
much  from  weakness  of  eyesight ;  but  these  drawbacks  did  not 
interfere  with  the  rigid  and  complete  discharge  of  his  duties. 
The  feebleness  of  his  sight  induced  him  to  turn  his  attention 
especially  to  that  subject,  and  when  the  revolution  commencedT 
he  had  made  considerable  progress  in  an  elementary  work  on 
Optics,  which  he  proposed  to  publish  for  the  benefit  of  his  class. 
His  character  seems  to  have  been  understood  and  appreciated 
by  the  best  classes  of  the  little  society  of  Lexington,  and  his 
virtues  were  greatly  respected.  Men  of  grave  character  and 
experience  discerned  the  solid  merits  of  the  man ;  and  if  they 
did  not  suspect  the  presence  of  that  military  genius  which  he 
afterwards  exhibited  on  another  arena,  they  valued  him  for  his 
conscientious  devotion  to  duty,  and  loved  him  for  his  simplicity 
and  piety.  One  who  was  connected  with  him  officially  at  this 
time,  Colonel  Smith,  the  superintendent,  writes :  "  His  great 
principle  of  government  was  that  a  general  rule  should  not  be 
violated  for  any  particular  good  ;  and  his  animating  rule  of  action 
was,  that  a  man  could  always  accomplish  what  he  willed  to  per- 
form." This  statement  may  be  paraphrased  in  the  words  sys- 
tem, regularity,  justice,  impartiality,  and  unconquerable  perse- 
verance and  determination.  These  were  valuable  lessons  ta 


28  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

teach  youths."  They  laughed  at  him,  but  they  imbibed  the  prin- 
ciples of  action  which  he  taught.  They  derided  the  rigid  disci- 
pline which  the  young  martinet  enacted ;  denounced  him  for 
administering  things  u  on  a  war  footing,"  and  no  doubt  honestly 
regarded  him  as  a  most  unreasonable  advocate  of  useless  mili- 
tary etiquette  ;  but  they  were  slowly  and  certainly  trained,  like 
growing  twigs,  in  the  direction  which  the  teacher  wished.  Jack- 
gon  proceeded  upon  the  eminently  just  view  that  the  Institute 
was  a  military  school,  whose  chief  value  consisted  in  the  habits 
of  military  system  and  obedience  which  it  impressed  on  the 
ductile  characters  of  the  cadets,  and  regarded  any  relaxation  of 
the  rules  of  the  establishment  as  directly  tending  to  strike  at  the 
intention  of  its  founders  and  destroy  its  usefulness.  Many  anec- 
dotes touching  this  point  are  related  of  him.  He  once  contin- 
ued to  wear  a  thick  woollen  uniform  during  the  sultriest  days 
of  summer,  when  everybody  else  had  adopted  the  lightest  attire 
possible  ;  and  when  asked  by  one  of  the  professors  why  he  did 
so,  replied  that  "  he  had  seen  an  order  prescribing  the  uniform 
which  he  wore,  but  none  had  been  exhibited  to  him  directing  it 
to  be  changed."  Another  incident  is  equally  characteristic. 
Colonel  Smith  declares  that  he  has  known  him  to  walk  to  and 
fro,  in  front  of  the  superintendent's  quarters,  with  a  heavy  rain 
beating  upon  his  person,  "  because  the  hour  had  not  quite  ar- 
rived when  it  was  his  duty  to  present  his  weekly  reports."  Such 
things  appeared  extremely  absurd  to  the  young  gentlemen  who 
had  no  idea  of  the  importance  of  military  "  orders,"  and  the 
implicit  obedience  which  a  good  soldier  considers  it  his  duty  to 
pay  to  them.  But  which  was  right — the  laughing  young  cadet, 
or  the  grave  major  of  artillery?  Let  the  thousands  who  in  the 
late  bitter  and  arduous  struggle  have  been  taught  by  stern  expe- 
rience the  necessity  of  strict  compliance  with  all  orders,  to  the 
very  letter,  answer  the  question. 

As  yet,  however,  the  cadets  laughed,  and  doubted  the  good 
sense  of  all  this  rigid  discipline.  They  not  only  made  fun  of 
the  grave  Professor  behind  his  back,  but  persecuted  and  "  sorely 
tried  "  him,  says  "  An  ex-Cadet,"  by  practical  jokes.  One  of 


PROFESSOR   AT    LEXINGTON.  9 

these  was  amusing,  and  will  give  the  reader  some  idea  of  the 
youths  with  whom  he  had  to  deal.  The  battery  used  in  drilling 
was  managed  by  drag-ropes,  which  the  junior  class  manned. 
These  would  play  all  sorts  of  pranks.  Sometimes  a  lynch-pin 
would  be  secretly  abstracted,  and  the  piece  or  caisson  would 
break  down  in  the  midst  of  the  drill.  A  more  mirth-provoking 
device  even  than  this,  however,  was  hit  upon.  A  small  bell 
was  adroitly  suspended  inside  of  the  limber-box,  and  the  con- 
spirators demurely  took  their  places  at  the  drag-ropes.  The 
commander  of  the  battery  gave  the  order  "  Forward,"  and  thb 
pieces  began  to  move.  Suddenly  a  mysterious  tinkling  was 
heard,  and  the  cadets,  unable  to  withstand  this  tax  upon  their 
risible  faculties,  burst  into  shouts  of  laughter.  The  Professor 
looked  astonished,  halted  the  battery,  and  with  great  earnestness 
instituted  an  inquiry  into  the  phenomenon.  It  was  in  vain ; 
nothing  was  discovered,  and  the  order  was  again  given  for  the 
pieces  to  move  forward.  They  moved,  and  the  hidden  bell  again 
tinkled,  amid  renewed  shouts  of  laughter.  How  this  adventure 
terminated  we  are  not  informed,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  the 
trick  was  played  and  was  not  greatly  enjoyed  by  Professor  Jack- 
son. Other  devices  of  the  frolicsome  cadets  to  annoy  him  seem 
to  have  affected  him  with  a  touch  of  humor.  We  have  referred 
to  the  long  drawling  manner  in  which,  following  the  fashion  of 
West  Point,  he  gave  his  commands.  A  favorite  movement  with 
him  was  to  bring  the  battery  into  echelon ;  and  whenever  the 
command  to  "Form  echelon"  was  given  with  its  accompani- 
ment, "  Right  oblique — trot — march  !  "  the  whole  ground  would 
ring  with  the  commands,  repeated  by  the  cadet  officers,  in  the 
most  ridiculous  drawl  imaginable.  One  evening  when  this  had 
been  carried  to  unwonted  excess,  the  adjutant  approached  Jack 
son  and  asked  him  how  he  was  pleased  with  the  drill. 

"  Very  much,  sir,"  replied  Jackson ;  then  smiling  slightly, 
he  added,  "the  officers  gave  very  fine  commands  this  afternoon." 

No  opportunity  of  having  a  laugh  at  the  Professor's  expense 
was  lost  sight  of,  and  on  another  occasion  the  cadets  had  some 
grounds  for  their  amusement.  One  day  Jackson  informed  his 


5C  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

class  that  the  clock  in  front  of  the  Institute  was  not  correct,  and 
declared  his  intention  to  ascertain,  by  scientific  means,  the  exact 
time.  He  accordingly  marched  out  to  the  parade-ground,  with 
the  class  at  his  heels,  and  proceeded,  by  means  of  his  instru- 
ments, to  take  an  observation.  The  result  was  amusing  and 
delightful  to  the  cadets-heart.  He  finished  his  work  about  half- 
past  twelve  in  the  day,  and  to  his  profound  astonishment  discov- 
ered that  it  was  nearly  seven  in  the  evening  !  The  cadets  set  up 
a  shout,  and  after  looking  around  him  with  incredulous  surprise 
for  some  moments,  Jackson  joined  in  the  general  laughter.  It 
was  soon  discovered  that  the  instruments  were  out  of  order,  but 
the  cadets  did  not  suffer  this  fact  to  lessen  their  appreciation  of 
the  joke. 

One  of  the  few  exhibitions  of  a  tendency  to  humor  which 
we  find  in  Jackson's  whole  career  occurred  at  this  period.  The 
reader  will  not  be  troubled  with  many  similar  incidents,  and  we 
give  the  anecdote  here.  One  morning  in  1858  he  called  up  a 
member  of  the  graduating  class,  and  with  profound  gravity  pro- 
pounded the  following  scientific  question  : 

"  Why  is  it  impossible  to  send  a  telegraphic  despatch  from 
Lexington  to  Staunton  ?  " 

The  cadet  reflected  for  some  moments,  and  then  replied  that 
the  explanation  of  this  phenomenon  doubtless  lay  in  the  fact 
that  the  amount  of  iron  ore  in  the  mountain  drew  the  magnetic 
current  from  the  wires. 

A  covert  smile  touched  upon  Jackson's  features  ;  fled  away, 
and  he  said : 

"  No,  sir ;  you  can  take  your  seat." 

Another  was  called  up,  but  he  too  failed  to  explain  the 
mystery.  A  second,  then  a  third  were  equally  unsuccessful- 
Jackson  listening  to  their  theories  with  profound  attention,  but 
with  the  same  sly  smile  which  had  greeted  the  first  solution. 
This  smile,  probably,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  next  cadet  who 
was  called,  and  threw  a  sudden  light  upon  the  subject.  His 
•countenance  lit  up  ;  his  lip  broke  into  a  smile  in  return,  and  he 
•«aid : 


PROFESSOR   AT    LEXINGTON.  31 

*'  Well,  Major  Jackson,  I  reckon  it  must  l>e  because  there  is 
•no  telegraph  between  the  two  places." 

"  You  are  right,  sir,"  replied  Jackson,  who  had  suddenly 
renewed  his  composed  expression.  "  You  can  take  your  seat." 

An  outburst  of  laughter  from  the  class  greeted  this  passage 
of  arms  in  which  the  Professor  was  overthrown,  but  the  un- 
wonted display  of  humor  had  apparently  exhausted  Jackson's 
appreciation  of  the  quality  for  the  time.  He  called  the  class  to 
order,  and  calmly  continued  the  subject  of  the  recitation  as  if 
nothing  had  happened. 

We  give  this  incident  upon  good  authority.  It  is  the  first 
and  last  attempt  at  a  practical  joke  which  we  find  in  Jackson's 
life. 

Another  incident  of  his  dealings  with  the  cadets  is  an  illus- 
tration of  the  quiet  courage  of  the  man,  and  disregard  of  per- 
sonal consequences  where  duty  was  concerned.  He  had  brought 
charges  against  a  cadet,  who  was  tried  and  dismissed  from  the 
Institute.  Burning  with  resentment,  the  young  man  declared 
his  intention  to  take  Jackson's  life,  and  arming  himself  took  his 
position  on  the  road  from  Lexington  to  the  Institute,  over  which 
he  knew  the  Professor  would  pass  on  his  way  to  meet  his  class. 
A  friend  had  overheard  the  youth  express  his  bloody  intention, 
and  hastening  to  warn  Jackson,  met  him  on  the  road,  and  in- 
formed him  of  his  danger,  strongly  urging  him  to  turn  back. 
To  turn  back,  however,  was  to  neglect  his  recitations  on  that 
day,  and  to  hold  his  recitations  was  a  part  of  his  duty.  He  pe- 
remptorily refused  to  retrace  his  steps,  and  with  the  cold  and 
stern  reply,  "  Let  the  assassin  murder  me  if  he  will !  "  continued 
his  way.  As  he  approached  the  spot  indicated,  he  saw  the  young 
man  standing  and  awaiting  him.  He  turned  and  gazed  fixedly 
at  him  with  that  look  which  had  fronted,  unmoved,  the  most 
terrible  scenes  of  carnage  upon  many  battle-fields.  The  youth 
could  not  sustain  it ;  he  lowered  his  eyes,  and,  turning  away  in 
silence,  left  the  spot,  while  Jackson  calmly  pursued  his  way. 

We  have  here  placed  upon  record,  with  such  illustrations  as 
we  could  collect,  the  traits  of  character  which  distinguished 


32  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON.  ^ 

Jackson  at  this  period  of  his  life.  One  other  which  is  men- 
tioned by  a  recent  biographer  should  be  noticed — the  strength 
of  his  memory.  "  In  the  section  room,"  says  "  An  ex-Cadet," 
"  he  would  sit  perfectly  erect  and  motionless,  listening  with  grave 
attention,  and  exhibiting  the  great  powers  of  his  wonderful 
memory,  which  was,  I  think,  the  most  remarkable  that  ever 
came  under  my  observation.  The  course  that  he  taught  was 
the  most  difficult  and  complicated  known  to  mathematics,  run- 
ning through  at  least  half  a  dozen  text-books.  In  listening  to  a 
recitation  he  rarely  used  a  book.  He  was  ready  at  any  moment 
to  refer  to  any  page  or  line  in  any  of  the  books,  and  then  to 
repeat  with  perfect  accuracy  the  most  difficult  passages  that 
could  be  referred  to." 

Such  was  Jackson  at  Lexington  ;  a  stiff,  earnest,  military 
figure — artillery  officer  turned  professor :  stern  in  his  bearing, 
eccentric  in  his  habits,  peculiar  in  many  of  his  views,  leading  a 
life  of  alternate  activity  in  the  section  room  and  abstraction  in 
the  study,  independent,  devoted  to  duty,  deeply  religious  in  sen- 
timent, and  notable  in  person,  deportment,  and  character  for  an 
undoubted  originality.  The  eccentric  figure  was  as  well  known 
in  Lexington  as  that  of  the  "  Iron  Duke,"  raising  the  finger  to 
his  hat,  and  uttering  his  curt  greeting  in  the  streets  of  London. 
As  years  wore  on  his  character  was  better  understood — his  merit 
more  fully  recognized.  We  may  doubt  Colonel  Smith's  asser- 
tion that  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  present  war,  "  the  sponta- 
neous sentiment  of  every  cadet  and  graduate  was  to  serve  under 
him  as  their  leader,"  but  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  he 
had  strongly  impressed  great  numbers  of  persons  with  a  convic- 
tion of  his  soldierly  qualities — his  good  judgment,  impartiality, 
perseverance,  courage,  and  knowledge  of  the  profession  of  arms. 

Thus  passed  the  years,  almost  without  incident  with  Jack- 
son— month  following  month,  with  little  to  distinguish  one  from 
another.  The  death  of  his  first  wife  ;  his  second  marriage  ;  a 
brief  visit  which  he  made  to  Europe  in  1858,  and  his  march  to 
Charlestown,  Virginia,  in  command  of  the  cadet  battery,  in 


PROFESSOR  AT  LEXINGTON.  33 

1859,  during  the  John  Brown  agitation,  are  the  only  events 
which  seem  to  have  interrupted  the  monotony  of  his  daily  duties. 
The  loss  of  his  wife  must  have  been  a  heavy  blow  to  a  man  of 
so  much  depth  and  earnestness  of  feeling,  but  we  have  no  pri- 
vate records  connected  with  that  event.  His  tour  in  Europe  is 
equally  a  blank.  We  only  know  that  in  1858  he  obtained  a 
furlough  of  three  months  from  the  Board  of  Visitors,  which  he 
spent  in  European  travel.  The  tour  was  brief  and  rapid,  and 
we  can  trace  from  it  no  influences  upon  his  life  or  character. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  leave  of  absence  he  was  back  in  his 
accustomed  place,  dressed  in  his  accustomed  uniform,  and  calmly 
pursuing  his  recitations,  his  artillery  drills,  and  his  scientific 
studies. 

His  life  had  thus  flowed  on,  almost  without  a  ripple  on  the 
serene  surface.  He  was  a  sentinel  on  duty,  whose  "beat**  was 
between  his  study  and  his  recitation-room.  The  ardent  young 
soldier  had  settled  down  into  the  serious  professor,  drilling  mil- 
itary and  scientific  knowledge  into  the  minds  of  youth,  and  con- 
tent in  this  sphere  of  usefulness  to  forget  all  the  dreams  of  am- 
bition. Had  not  the  recent  struggle  called  him  to  the  field  once 
more,  it  is  almost  certain  that  he  would  have  grown  gray  in  his 
professor's  chair,  and  died  unknown. 

But  such  a  tranquil  life  and  death  was  not  to  be  the  fate  of 
Jackson.  His  early  manhood  had  been  passed  in  the  hot  at- 
mosphere of  battle,  and  amid  the  roar  of  artillery  and  small 
arms  :  that  stormy  music  had  saluted  his  youthful  ears,  and  was 
to  thunder  round  him  on  many  a  hard-fought  field  in  a  fiercer 
contest  than  any  of  the  past ;  and  with  the  solemn  diapason  rolJ« 
ing  in  the  distance  still,  his  spirit  was  to  pass  away. 


34  LIFE    OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

CHAPTEE  V. 

JACKSON   IS   APPOINTED   COLONEL   OF   VOLUNTEERS. 

THE  causes  which  led  to  the  late  war  are  too  well  known  ta 
require  any  notice  here.  Other  considerations  operate  to  deter 
the  writer  from  entering  upon  the  subject.  A  brief  summary 
would  be  too  little,  and  a  full  discussion  too  much. 

South  Carolina  seceded  on  the  20th  December,  1860,  and  by 
the  1st  of  February,  1861.  she  had  been  joined  in  the  order 
named  by  Mississippi,  Florida,  Alabama,  Georgia,  Louisiana, 
and  Texas.  Military  movements  had  begun  at  many  points, 
and  the  formal  collision  was  rapidly  approaching.  Early  in 
February,  Jefferson  Davis,  of  Mississippi,  was  elected  President 
of  the  Confederate  States,  and  on  the  13th  of  April  Fort  Sum- 
ter  surrendered  to  General  Beauregard. 

On  the  next  day,  April  14, 1861,  President  Lincoln  issued  his 
proclamation  calling  upon  the  States  for  75,000  men,  to  enforce 
obedience  to  the  United  States  authority  in  the  seceded  States. 

This  proclamation  decided  the  course  of  Virginia.  She  had 
long  delayed  her  decision,  from  an  almost  unconquerable  repug- 
nance to  a  dissolution  of  the  Union,  and  the  inauguration  of  a 
bloody  civil  war,  which  must  desolate  her  own  territory  more 
than  that  of  any  other  State  ;  and,  in  the  Convention,  then  sitting 
at  Richmond,  the  advocates  of  secession  had  hitherto  found  them- 
selves opposed  by  a  majority  which  nothing  seemed  able  to  over- 
come. This  large  party  were  in  favor  of  mediating  between 
the  extremes,  and  believed  themselves  competent  to  arrange  the 
differences  by  Peace  Commissioners,  and  an  appeal  to  the  old 
kindly  feeling  of  both  sections.  In  April,  however,  it  began  to 
be  plainly  seen  that  these  hopes  were  illusory.  The  Commis- 
sioners returned  from  Washington  without  attaining  any  results, 
and  the  proclamation  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  call- 
ing for  troops  to  act  against  the  South,  speedily  followed. 


JACKSON    IS    APPOINTED   COLONEL    OF    VOLUNTEERS.        35 

Virginia,  as  one  of  the  States  still  in  the  Union,  was  ex- 
pected to  furnish  her  quota  of  this  force  of  75,000  men ;  and 
the  Commonwealth  was  called,  upon  immediately  to  decide 
whether  she  would  fight  against  or  with  the  South.  Her  deci- 
sion was  shown  by  the  passage,  on  the  17th  of  April,  of  an  ordi- 
nance of  secession,  and  Virginia  took  her  place,  for  weal  or 
woe,  by  the  side  of  her  Southern  sisters. 

Having  thus  cast  their  lot  with  the  seceding  States,  the  au- 
thorities of  Virginia  proceeded  to  prepare  for  war.  The  Con- 
vention entered  with  vigor  upon  the  work  of  putting  the  Com- 
monwealth in  a  state  of  defence  ;  volunteers  were  directed  to  be 
enrolled  and  held  in  readiness  in  every  part  of  the  State ;  and 
Colonel  R.  E.  Lee,  who  had  resigned  his  commission  in  the 
United  States  cavalry,  and  repaired  to  his  native  State,  was  ap- 
pointed Major-General  of  the  Provisional  army  of  Virginia,  and 
placed  in  command  of  all  her  forces. 

These  steps  were  not  taken  too  soon.  The  action  of  Vir- 
ginia had  been  anticipated  by  the  Federal  authorities,  and  they 
now  acted  with  decision.  The  passage  of  the  ordinance  of  seces- 
sion became  known  on  the  18th,  and  on  the  19th  of  April  Lieu- 
tenant Jones,  of  the  United  States  army,  evacuated  Harper's 
Ferry,  having  first  attempted  to  blow  up  the  public  buildings 
there.  On  the  next  day  reinforcements  were  promptly  thrown 
into  Fortress  Monroe  ;  and  the  navy  yard  at  Norfolk,  together 
with  the  war  shipping  there,  was  set  on  fire  and  abandoned. 

War  had  thus  commenced,  and  with  it  Jackson  appeared 
upon  the  scene.  He  left  Lexington  on  the  21st  of  April,  in 
command  of  the  corps  of  cadets,  and,  proceeding  to  Camp  Lee 
at  Richmond,  entered  energetically  upon  the  task  of  drilling  the 
new  levies  flocking  in  from  every  portion  of  the  State.  While 
he  was  thus  engaged,  Governor  Letcher  nominated  him  for  colo- 
nel of  volunteers,  and  his  name  came  up  before  the  Convention. 
Here  some  objection  was  shown  to  the  appointment.  A  strong 
prejudice  had  taken  hold  upon  the  public  mind  against  the  mana- 
gers of  the  Military  Institute,  who  were  supposed  to  have  be- 
trayed an  intention  of  monopolizing,  if  possible,  for  the  officers 


36  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON 

and  graduates  of  that  school,  all  military  appointments  in  the' 
Virginia  forces,  and  the  career  of  Jackson  in  Mexico,  never 
very  widely  known,  appeared  to  have  passed  from  the  memories 
of  everybody. 

"  Who  is  this  Thomas  J.  Jackson?"  was  a  question  asked 
hy  many,  and  one  of  his  friends  replied : 

"  I  can  tell  you  who  he  is.  If  you  put  him  in  command  at 
Norfolk,  he  will  never  leave^it  alive,  unless  you  order  him  to 
do  so." 

His  services  in  Mexico  and  at  the  Institute  were  dwelt  upon 
by  his  friends,  and  his  appointment  was  unanimously  confirmed. 
But  he  was  not  sent  to  Norfolk.  He  was  directed  to  proceed  to 
Harper's  Ferry  and  take  command  of  the  forces  assembling 
there,  which  he  did  on  the  3d  of  May,  1861. 

We  have  a  personal  sketch  of  Jackson  as  he  appeared  at  this 
time,  which,  if  not  very  complimentary,  is  at  least  characteristic, 
and  shows  what  effect  he  produced  upon  strangers. 

An  army  correspondent  of  one  of  the  Southern  papers  drew 
an  outline  of  the  newly  appointed  colonel.  The  queer  appari- 
tion of  the  ex-Professor  on  the  field  excited  great  merriment  in 
this  writer.  The  Old  Dominion  must  be  wofully  deficient  in 
military  men,  he  feared*,  if  this  was  the  best  she  could  do.  The 
new  colonel  was  not  at  all  like  a  commanding  officer.  There 
was  a  painful  want  in  him  of  all  the  "  pride,  pomp,  and  circum- 
stance of  glorious  war."  His  dress  was  no  better  than  a  pri- 
vate soldier's,  and  there  was  not  a  particle  of  gold  lace  about 
his  uniform.  His  air  was  abstracted  ;  his  bearing  stiff  and  awk- 
ward ;  he  kept  his  own  counsels  ;  never  consulted  with  his  offi- 
cers, and  had  very  little  to  say  to  anybody.  On  horseback  his 
appearance  was  even  less  impressive.  Other  officers,  at  that 
early  stage  of  the  war,  when  the  fondness  for  military  insignia 
and  display  wag  greater  than  afterwards,  when  the  blockade  had 
cut  off  the  supply  of  gewgaws  and  decorations,  made  their  ap- 
pearance before  their  troops  on  prancing  horses,  with  splendid 
trappings,  and  seemed  desirous  of  showing  the  admiring  specta- 
tors how  gracefully  they  could  sit  in  the  saddle.  The  new  colo- 


JACKSON    IS    APPOINTED    COLONEL    OF    VOLUNTEERS.        87 

nel  was  a  strong  contrast  to  all  this.  He  rode  an  old  horse  who 
seemed  to  have  little  of  the  romance  of  war  about  him,  and 
nothing  at  all  fine  in  his  equipment.  His  seat  in  the  saddle  was 
far  from  graceful ;  he  leaned  forward  awkwardly ;  settled  his 
chin  from  time  to  time  in  his  lofty  military  stock,  and  looked 
from  side  to  side,  from  beneath  the  low  rim  of  his  cadet  cap,  in 
a  manner  which  the  risible  faculties  of"  the  correspondent  could 
not  resist.  A  queerer  figure,  and  one  which  answered  less  to 
the  idea  of  military  grace,  had  never  before  dawned  on  the  atten- 
tion of  the  literary  gentleman  who  sketched  it  for  the  amuse- 
ment of  the  Southern  reader. 

The  sketch  was  not  inaccurate  in  the  main  particulars. 
Such  was  not  a  bad  description  of  the  figure  which  the  troops 
scanned  curiously  as  he  passed  to  and  fro  on  duty  ;  and  those  who 
distrusted  the  ability  of  this  silent  and  phlegmatic  personage  to 
command  the  forces,  had  their  views  apparently  confirmed 
soon  afterwards.  On  the  23d  of  May,  General  Joseph  E.  John- 
ston, formerly  of  the  United  States  5b-my,  and  an  officer  of  tried 
ability  and  courage,  arrived,  and  took  command  of  all  the  troops 
at  Harper's  Ferry.  Jackson  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a 
brigade  of  infantry,  composed  of  four  regiments  of  Virginians. 

The  Federal  authorities  had  meanwhile  called  for  additional 
troops,  and  did  not  seem  to  share  the  opinion  of  the  leading 
Northern  journals,  which  predicted  an  early  and  almost  blood- 
less termination  of  the  war.  "  The  nations  of  Europe,"  said  one 
of  these  journals,  "  may  rest  assured  that  Jeff.  Davis  and  Co. 
will  be  swinging  from  the  battlements  of  "Washington,  at  least  by 
the  Fourth  of  July.  "We  spit  upon  a  later  and  longer-deferred 
justice."  Another  said :  "  Let  us  make  quick  work.  The 
*  rebellion,'  as  some  people  designate  it,  is  an  unborn  tadpole. 
Let  us  not  fall  into  the  delusion  noticed  by  Hallam,  of  mistaking 
a  '  local  commotion  '  for  a  revolution.  A  strong,  active  '  pull  to 
gether  will  do  our  work  effectually  in  thirty  days.  We  have 
only  tc  send  a  column  of  25,000  men  across  the  Potomac,  to 
Richmond,  and  burn  out  the  rats  there ;  another  column  of 
25,000  to  Cairo,  seizing  the  cotton  ports  of  the  Mississippi,  and 


38  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSOX. 

retaining  the  remaining  25,000  included  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  call  for 
75,000  men,  at  Washington,  not  because  there  is  any  need  for 
them  there,  but  because  we  do  not  require  their  services  else- 
where." A  third  said :  "  No  man  of  sense  can  for  a  moment 
doubt  that  this  much-ado-about-nothing  will  end  in  a  month. 
The  rebels,  a  mere  band  of  ragamuffins,  will  fly  like  chaff  before- 
the  wind  on  our  approach."  "  Let  the  East  get  out  of  the 
way,"  said  a  fourth,  "  this  is  a  war  of  the  West.  We  can  fight 
the  battle  and  successfully,  within  two  or  three  months  at  the 
furthest.  Illinois  can  whip  the  South  by  herself.  We  insist  on 
the  matter  being  turned  over  to  us."  A  fifth  said  :  "  The  rebel- 
lion will  be  crushed  out  before  the  assemblage  of  Congress — not 
a  doubt  of  it." 

The  impression  of  the  journals  from  which  we  have  taken 
the  above  extracts  differed  widely  from  the  apparent  conviction 
of  the  Federal  Executive.  As  early  as  the  3d  of  May,  President 
Lincoln  called  for  40,000  additional  infantry  volunteers,  18,000 
seamen,  and  ten  more  regiments  for  the  regular  army,  then 
being  concentrated  around  Washington.  This  would  place  at 
his  disposal  about  150,000  troops,  and  this  force  was  evidently 
the  very  least  number  possible,  to  carry  out  the  plan  of  the  Gov- 
ernment. This  plan — devised,  it  is  said,  by  Lteutenant-General 
Winfield  Scott,  commanding  the  Armies  of  the  United  States 
— was,  to  send  one  column  to  seize  upon  the  Valley  of  the 
Mississippi,  another  to  enter  Kentucky  and  crush  the  rising 
spirit  of  rebellion  there,  and  a  third  to  capture  Richmond,  and 
paralyze  the  Confederate  power  in  Virginia.  With  a  strict 
blockade  of  the  Southern  ports,  these  steps,  it  was  supposed, 
would  terminate  the  Southern  movement. 

Virginia  was  to  be  invaded  in  four  directions — from  For- 
tress Monroe  up  the  Peninsula,  between  the  James  and  York 
Rivers ;  from  Alexandria  by  way  of  Manassas  and  the  Orange 
and  Alexandria  Railroad  to  Gordonsville  ;  from  Williamsport  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah ;  and  from  the  northwest  toward 
Staunton.  These  four  columns  were  to  move  at  the  same  time, 
and,  converging  upon  Richmond,  take  that  city,  reduce  Virginia. 


THE    VALLEY.  39 

under  the  Federal  sway  again,  and  then,  uniting  with  the  columns 
in  Kentucky  and  the  Mississippi  Valley,  penetrate  to  the  heart 
of  the  Confederacy,  and  dictate  terms  at  Montgomery  where  it 
had  originated. 

It  remained  to  be  seen  whether  the  able  soldiers  in  command 
of  the  Confederate  forces  would  permit  this  plan  of  operations  to 
be  carried  out.  The  question  of  the  time  necessary  to  subdue 
the  Southern  movement — upon  which  Lieutenant-General  Scott 
and  the  editors  differed  so  widely — was,  after  all,  to  be  decided 
by  Johnston  and  Beauregard. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    VALLEY. 

THE  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  where  Jackson's  most  cele- 
brated military  movements  took  place,  is  that  portion  of  Vir- 
ginia lying  between  the  'Blue  Ridge  and  North  Mountains,  and 
extending  from  the  headwaters  of  the  Shenandoah  near  Staun- 
tou  to  the  Potomac. 

The  region  has  been  called  with  propriety  the  "  Garden  of 
Virginia  ;  "  and  a  Southern  writer,  in  a  rapture  of  admiration  at 
its  beauties  of  field  and  forest,  mountain  and  river,  describes  it 
as  a  veritable  Arcadia,  realizing  the  most  fanciful  dreams  of  the 
elder  poets.  In  the  last  century  we  find  an  English  traveller, 
Buruaby,  revelling  in  animated  pictures  of  the  splendid  land- 
scape which  he  looked  upon  from  a  spur  of  the  Blue  Ridge : — 
the  pellucid  waters  of  the  Shenandoah,  skirted  by  tall  trees,  with 
drooping  foliage,  the  chamoedaphnes  in  full  bloom,  and  burdening 
the  air  with  fragrance ;  the  mighty  forests  and  smiling  fields ; 
the  delicious  climate  ;  and  the  Eden-like  happiness  of  those  who, 
far  from  the  bustle,  the  cares,  and  the  anxieties  of  the  worn-out 
world  of  Europe,  here  lived,  in  the  midst  of  a  lovely  land,  a  life 
of  freedom  and  tranquillity  unknown  to  princes. 


40  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

This  beautiful  and  fruitful  region  was  worthy  of  protection 
for  its  own  sake,  for  its  patriotic  inhabitants,  its  large  slave 
population,  and  for  the  rich  supplies  which  its  fertile  fields  con- 
tained.    But  it  was  also  exceedingly  important,  in  a  military 
point  of  view,  that  it  should  be  held  by  a  Confederate  force,  and 
no  part  of  it  surrendered  to  the  occupation  of  the  enemy.     A 
glance  at  the  map  of  the  State  will  show  the  justice  of  this  state 
ment.     It  will  be  seen  that  no  portion  of  the  region  could  be 
given    up,   without    serious   detriment    to   military   operations 
north  of  Richmond ;   and  that  possession  of  the  upper  valley 
would  enable  an  enemy  to  cut  off  the  Confederate  communication 
with  the  Southwest,  and  strike  a  dangerous  blow  at  the  capital. 
It  was  especially  important  at  this  time — May,  1861 — that  not 
a  foot  of  ground  in  the  lower  valley  should  be   surrendered. 
Winchester,  the  key  of  the  region,  was  essential  to  the  Confed- 
erates, and  this  central  point  was  entirely  undefended  by  fortifi- 
cations of  any  description.     The   town  was   less   than   thirty 
miles  from  the  Potomac  ;  and  excellent  turnpike  roads  converged 
toward  it  from  Romney,  Martinsburg,  Sheppardstown,  Charles- 
town,  and  Berryville,  like  the  fingers  of  an  open  hand.     Over 
these  roads,  the  Federal  force,  reported  to  be  near  Romney  and 
Williamsport,  could  easily  advance  with  their  trains  and  artil- 
lery ;  and  Winchester  once  in  their  possession,  the  effect  would 
have  been  disastrous  in  the  extreme.     A  short  march  through 
the  Blue  Ridge,  at  Snicker's,  Ashby's,  or  Manassas  Gaps,  would 
enable  them  to  take  Manassas  Junction  in  flank  and  reverse,  as- 
sail the  Confederate  force  there  at  an  enormous  advantage,  and 
either  force  it  to  fight  upon  terms  which  they  dictated,  or  fall 
back  to  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock. 

Thus,  to  give  up  Winchester  was  to  abandon  not  only  that 
portion  of  the  valley  with  its  rich  resources  and  loyal  inhab- 
itants, but  to  yield  possession  of  the  whole  extent  of  country 
east  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  north  of  Fredericksburg.  The  Fed- 
eral forces  would  have  poured  into  this  smiling  region,  estab- 
lished themselves  firmly  throughout  the  entire  "  northern  neck," 
and  almost  without  fighting,  achieved  a  position  for  future  opera- 


THE   FIRST   BRIGADE.  41 

tions,  to  attain  which  afterwards  cost  them  an  untold  expendi- 
ture of  money  and  blood.  It  was  to  prevent  them  from  securing 
so  dangerous  a  foothold  thus  early  in  the  struggle,  that  an  army 
had  been  sent  to  the  lower  valley,  and  placed  under  the  direction 
of  an  officer  of  tried  capacity  and  courage. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

• 

THE    FIRST    BRIGADE. 

JACKSON  was  superseded  in  command,  as  we  have  said,  by 
General  Johnston,  on  the  23d  of  May.  He  had  been  active  and 
energetic  in  organizing,  equipping,  and  drilling  the  troops ;  and 
every  thing  was  to  be  done.  Organization,  instruction,  and  drill 
were  only  a  portion  of  the  labor.  Transportation  was  to  be  se- 
cured, artillery  horses  collected,  and  ammunition  to  be  obtained. 
The  very  harness  to  draw  the  guns  was  difficult  to  be  secured. 
The  volunteers  were  generally  well  armed,  but  the  Ordnance 
Department  of  the  Confederacy  was  wholly  unorganized,  and  the 
few  munitions  then  manufactured  in  the  South  were  too  defec- 
tive to  be  relied  on.  General  Lee  showed  Colonel  Stuart,  about 
this  time,  a  miserable-looking  percussion-cap,  apparently  ex- 
ploded, and  said  sadly,  "  This  is  the  best  we  can  make." 

Jackson's  energy  soon  achieved  good  results.  The  little 
army  of  volunteers  was  gradually  moulded  into  something  like 
an  effective  force  ;  and  although  its  equipments  were  not  such  as 
enabled  it  to  take  the  field  with  advantage,  General  Johnston 
found  himself  in  command  of  a  very  respectable  body  of  troops. 
It  consisted  of  nine  regiments  and  two  battalions  of  infantry ; 
four  companies  of  artillery,  with  sixteen  pieces,  but  no  caissons, 
horses,  or  harness,  and  about  three  hundred  cavalry. 

The  troops  were  only  partially  drilled,  several  regiments  al- 
most without  accoutrements,  and  the  supply  of  ammunition  was 
entirely  inadequate  for  active  operations  ;  but  the  character  of 


42  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

the  men  who  commanded  this  volunteer  force  was  a  sure  guaranty 
that  all  defects  would  be  speedily  remedied. 

General  Johnston  was  a  thorough  soldier,  and  had  his  whole 
heart  in  the  cause.*  Colonel  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  who  commanded 
the  cavalry,  was  characterized  by  untiring  energy,  clear  judg- 
ment, and  extraordinary  powers  of  communicating  his  own  brave 
spirit  to  his  men.  And  Captain  Pendleton,  in  charge  of  the  ar- 
tillery, was  an  excellent  officer,  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and 
devoted  heart  and  soul  to  the  South.  The  deficiency  in  harness 
for  the  artillery  was  readily  supplied  by  the  use  of  ropes  and 
farm  gearing :  the  cavalry  were  taught  that  more  depended  upon 
stout  hearts,  strong  arms,  and  the  elan  of  the  true  cavalier,  than 
on  the  number  or  excellence  of  weapons ;  and  into  the  ardent 
youths  of  the  infantry  were  infused  the  stern  courage,  the  un- 
yielding fortitude,  the  daring,  the  obstinacy,  the  unshrinking 
nerve  of  Jackson.  With  Stuart  in  command  of  his  cavalry, 

*  The  correspondent  of  a  Southern  journal  thus  described  Johnston  : 
"  General  Johnston,  as  you  are  aware,  is  a  native  of  the  proud  old  Common- 
wealth of  Virginia,  and  a  little  turned  fifty  years  of  age.  He  weighs  about  one 
hundred  and  sixty  pounds,  is  five  feet  ten  inches  in  height — though  he  looks 
taller  on  account  of  his  erect  carriage — has  a  florid  complexion,  short  gray  hair 
and  closely  cut  side-whiskers,  mustache  and  goatee.  His  manners  are  rather 
quiet  and  dignified,  and  his  general  appearance  and  deportment  highly  military. 
Indeed,  every  thing  about  him — his  bearing,  style  of  dress,  and  even  his  most 
careless  attitudes — betoken  the  high-toned  and  spirited  soldier,  who  loves  his 
profession,  and  whose  soul  revels  in  the  din  and  uproar  of  the  battle-field.  His 
short  hair  and  beard,  high  color,  close-fitting  uniform,  striking  air  and  self-pos- 
session, remind  one  of  the  game  cock,  the  most  courageous  of  all  '  the  fowls  of 
the  air,'  when  clipped  and  trimmed  and  prepared  for  the  ring. 

"  As  a  strategist  he  enjoys  a  very  high  reputation  among  military  men.  In 
his  operations  he  regards  masses  and  general  results,  rather  than  isolated 
bodies  and  mere  temporary  effects.  And  hence  the  opinion  prevails,  with 
some,  that  he  lacks  energy  and  enterprise.  This,  however,  is  a  great  mistake. 
No  man  is  more  watchful  of  his  adversary,  or  more  ready  to  strike  when  the 
right  time  comes ;  and  when  he  does  strike  he  delivers  the  blow  of  a  giant.» 
He  sees  but  little  advantage  in  picking  off  a  man  here  and  there,  or  in  precipi- 
tating small  bodies  of  men  against  each  other.  Instead  of  frittering  awayhia 
strength,  he  seeks  rather  to  husband  it  until  the  auspicious  moment  arrives, 
and  then  he  goes  to  work  with  an  energy  and  resolution  that  is  wonderful" 


THE   FIRST   BRIGADE.  4:3 

Pendleton  in  charge  of  the  artillery,  and  Jackson  to  lead  his  in- 
fantry, General  Johnston  had  an  auspicious  augury  of  the  splen- 
did results  which,  in  spite  of  its  small  numbers,  the  army  would 
surely  achieve.  Jackson  had  heen  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  First  Brigade  of  the  "  Army  of  the  Shenandoah,"  as  it  was 
now  called — consisting  of  the  2d  Virginia,  Colonel  Allen ;  the 
4th  Virginia,  Colonel  Preston  ;  the  5th  Virginia,  Colonel  Harper, 
and  the  27th  (Lieutenant-Colonel  Echols  commanding),  to 
which  was  soon  afterwards  added  the  33d  Virginia,  Colonel 
Gumming.  These  regiments  were  composed  of  the  very  flower 
and  pride  not  only  of  the  valley,  but  the  whole  commonwealth  ; 
and  this  fine  fighting  material  was  rapidly  taking  shape  from 
the  iron  hand  of  its  leader.  Jackson  had  already  begun  to 
mould  his  command  into  that  phalanx  which  stood  unbroken 
afterwards  amid  scenes  of  the  most  frightful  carnage.  It  was 
to  take  his  own  impress,  rejoice  in  being  led  by  him,  and,  as  the 
"  Stonewall  Brigade,"  attain  a  renown  which  will  live  in  the1 
pages  of  history. 

The  origin,  embodiment,  and  organization  of  this  famous 
brigade  would  afford  material  for  an  interesting  sketch.  For 
this  we  have  no  space,  but  a  brief  reference  to  the  material 
and  character  of  one  of  the  regiments — the  2d  Virginia — will 
convey  an  idea  of  the  rest.  This  regiment  was  composed  of 
young  men  from  the  counties  of  Jefferson,  Berkeley,  Frederick, 
and  Clarke,  where  there  had  been  scarcely  a  youth  over  fifteen 
who  had  not  shouldered  his  musket  and  marched  to  defend  the 
border.  The  ardor  of  the  times  burned  in  every  breast,  even  in 
boys  far  below  the  military  age,  and  it  became  wholly  impossi- 
ble to  keep  them  at  school.  In  vain  did  the  mothers  of  these 
gay  youths,  trembling  at  the  thought  of  exposing  their  weak 
frames  to  the  hardships  of  the  service,  use  every  means  of  re- 
taining them  at  home.  The  high  spirit  derived  from  courageous 
ancestors  broke  through  all  obstacles,  and  carried  its  point. 
The  schools  were  deserted ;  the  scholars  laid  down  their  text- 
books to  take  up  the  musket ;  the  towns,  villages,  and  cross-roads 
were  alive  with  young  warriors,  ardently  learning  the  drill  and 


M  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

the  management  of  their  arms ;  and  from  their  own  beardless 
ranks  were  elected  those  officers  who  afterwards  faced  the  storms 
of  battle  at  Manassas,  Kernstown,  Port  Republic,  and  in  all  the 
great  campaigns  of  the  low  country — of  Maryland  and  Pennsyl- 
vania— with  a  nerve  so  splendid  and  heroic.  They  had,  many 
of  them,  lived  in  luxury,  but  they  strapped  on  the  knapsack, 
shouldered  the  musket,  and  marched  and  fought  and  lived  hard, 
with  the  contentment  and  resolution  of  veterans.'  There  was 
little  repining  at  hard  fare  or  exhausting  marches — and  marched 
they  were  very  nearly  to  death.  They  proved  themselves  thor- 
ough soldiers  ;  accepted  good  fortune  and  bad  with  equanimity ; 
and,  advancing  into  action  with  a  gay  and  chivalric  courage, 
fought  and  died  with  a  smile  upon  the  lips.  In  the  ranks  of  the 
regiment  were  persons  of  all  ages  and  conditions — old  men  and 
boys,  the  humblest  of  the  sons  of  toil  and  the  heirs  of  the  most 
ancient  families — but  there  was  no  distinction  which  separated 
them.  They  were  all  united,  trained,  and  working  for  a  com- 
mon object ;  and  thus  united  they  continued  to  the  end. 

All  that  this  excellent  fighting  material  required  in  May, 
1861,  was  a  leader  who  could  compel  the  respect,  arouse  the  en- 
thusiasm, and  control  and  direct  the  chivalric  impulses  of  the 
men.  This  leader  was  found  in  the  person  of  Jackson 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

JOHNSTON   RETREATS. 

AN  opportunity  to  test  the  efficiency  of  the  troops  was  now 
near  at  hand.  The  Federal  authorities  had  entered  upon  the 
campaign  in  Virginia  with  great  vigor,  and  the  surprise  and 
capture  of  about  600  Confederates  at  Philippi,  in  Northwestern 
Virginia,  seemed  a  happy  omen  of  the  future.  The  affair  at 
Bethel,  in  Lower  Virginia,  on  the  10th  of  June,  was  not  so  en- 
•couraging.  At  that  place  an  attacking  force  of  Federal  infantry, 


JOHNSTON   RETREATS.  45 

about  4,000  in  number,  was  repulsed  by  about  1,800  Confeder- 
ates posted  behind  earthworks,  and  forced  to  retreat,  with  some 
loss,  to  Fortress  Monroe. 

The  most  important  field  of  operations  was,  however,  on  the 
Potomac,  and  toward  the  middle  of  June  the  great  campaign  in 
that  region  commenced.  General  McClellan  was  advancing 
from  the  northwest  with  an  army  of  about  20,000  men ;  Patter- 
son was  moving  from  Pennsylvania  on  Williamsport  with  a  force 
estimated  at  18,000 ;  and  the  "  Grand  Army,"  assembling  at 
Alexandria,  was  nearly  ready  to  advance  along  that  great  war 
artery,  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad,  upon  Richmond. 
To  oppose  the  march  of  these  heavy  columns,  the  Confederates 
had  about  23,000  men — of  whom  15,000  were  at  Manassas,  and 
about  8,000  at  Harper's  Ferry.  Much  reliance  was,  however, 
placed  iipon  the  officers  in  command  at  the  points  in  question. 
General  Beauregard,  commanding  at  Manassas,  was  a  soldier 
of  recognized  ability,  and  General  Johnston  was  supposed  to 
possess  high  qualifications  for  his  position.  Although  the  two 
armies  were  separate  and  distinct,  they  were  within  supporting 
distance,  and  could  easily  be  consolidated.  In  case  a  movement 
of  the  large  Federal  force  at  Washington  threatened  to  over- 
p  ower  the  troops  at  Manassas,  and  thus  open  the  way  to  Rich- 
mond, General  Johnston  could  promptly  evacuate  the  valley, 
unite  with  Beauregard,  and  oppose  the  Federal  advance  with 
the  entire  available  force  of  the  Confederacy  in  that  region. 

Such  was  the   general  situation.     We  proceed  now  to  the 
field  with  which  we  are  more  particularly  concerned. 

Upon  assuming  command  at  Harper's  Ferry,  General  John- 
ston made  a  complete  reconnoissance  of  the  place  and  its  envi 
rons.  The  authorities  seem  to  have  regarded  it  at  the  time  as  a 
point  of  strategic  importance,  but  Johnston's  examination  of  the 
ground  confirmed,  he  declares,  his  preconceived  opinion  that  the 
position  was  untenable  by  any  force  not  strong  enough  to  take 
the  field  against  an  invading  army,  and  hold  both  sides  of  the 
Potomac.  In  fact,  this  romantic  spot  is  a  species  of  triangle,  of 
which  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah,  here  mingling  their  waters,. 


46  LIFE   OF   STOXEWALL   JACKSOX. 

form  two  sides,  and  an  elevated  plateau  in  rear  of  the  town  the 
third.  The  position  is  exposed  to  enfilade  and  reverse  fires 
from  the  lofty  ridge  across  the  Potomac,  known  as  Maryland 
Heights,  and  could  easily  be  turned  by  the  enemy  crossing  above 
or  below.  In  addition  to  all  this,  Harper's  Ferry  was  twenty 
miles  from  the  great  route  into  the  valley,  by  which  Patterson 
would  advance  ;  and  if  he  continued  to  hold  it,  General  John- 
ston saw  that  he  would  be  out  of  position  to  defend  the  valley ; 
unable,  in  case  of  emergency,  to  join  General  Beauregard,  and 
would,  himself,  be  exposed  to  serious  danger  by  a  movement  of 
the  enemy  on  his  rear. 

These  considerations  determined  him  to  evacuate  a  position 
which  it  "  perfectly  suited  the  enemy's  views  "  to  have  him  oc- 
cupy, and  retired  to  Winchester,  his  true  base  of  operations, 
where  all  the  great  highways  converged.  Thence  he  could  op- 
pose the  columns  advancing  from  the  northwest  and  by  way  of 
Williamsport ;  had  the  valley  to  fall  back  along,  if  necessary, 
and,  better  than  all,  the  way  was  open  to  Beauregard,  who  might 
need  his  assistance  at  Manassas.  From  a  veritable  trap  Gen- 
eral Johnston  would  emerge  into  an  open  field,  where  he  could 
advance  or  retire  at  will,  free  as  a  raiiger  of  the  prairie  to  strike, 
stand  on  the  defensive,  or  retreat ;  and  this  new  position,  offer- 
ing so  many  advantages,  he  determined  at  once  to  occupy. 

The  movement,  however,  was  not  then  made.  The  military 
authorities  at  Richmond  regarded  the  continued  occupation  of 
Harper's  Ferry  as  indispensable,  and  Johnston  "  determined  to 
hold  it,  until  the  great  objects  of  the  Government  required  its 
abandonment."*  To  guard  against  surprise,  in  the  meanwhile, 
and  deceive  the  enemy  as  to  his  intention,  he  directed  Major 
Whiting,  his  chief  engineer,  to  mount  a  few  heavy  guns  on  Fur- 
nace Ridge,  above  the  town,  and  otherwise  strengthen  the  posi- 
tion. The  important  duty  of  picketing  the  river,  above  and  be- 
low, was  entrusted  to  the  cavalry  under  Colonel  Stuart. 

This  officer,  styled  by  Johnston  "  the  indefatigable  Stuart," 

*  This  ambiguous  sentence  is  taken  from  General  Johnston's  official  report. 


JOHXSTON   RETREATS.  47 

here  inaugurated  that  energetic  system  of  cavalry  tactics  which 
afterwards  on  a  wider  field  accomplished  so  much,  and  secured 
for  its  originator  his  great  and  justly-earned  reputation.  Bold, 
ardent,  and  "indefatigable"  by  mental  and  physical  organiza- 
tion, the  young  Virginian — for  he  was  not  yet  twenty-eight  years 
of  age — concentrated  all  his  faculties  upon  the  task  before  him, 
of  watching  for^  the  enemy's  approach  and  penetrating  his  de- 
signs. Educated  at  West  Point,  and  trained  in  Indian  fighting 
on  the  prairie,  he  brought  to  the  great  struggle,  upon  which  he 
had  now  entered,  a  thorough  knowledge  of  arms,  a  bold  and  fer- 
tile conception,  and  a  constitution  of  body  which  enabled  him  to 
bear  up  against  fatigues  which  would  have  prostrated  the  strength 
of  other  men.  Those  who  saw  him  at  this  tmie  are  eloquent  in 
their  description  of  his  energy  and  the  habits  of  the  man.  They 
tell  how  he  remained  almost  constantly  in  the  saddle ;  how  he 
never  failed  to  take  to  one  side  and  specially  instruct  every 
squad  which  went  out  on  picket ;  how  he  was  everywhere  present, 
at  all  hours  of  the  day  and  night,  along  the  line  which  he  guarded  ; 
and  how,  by  thus  infusing  into  the  raw  cavalry  his  own  untiring 
activity  and  watchfulness,  he  was  enabled,  in  spite  of  the  small 
force  which  he  commanded — about  three  hundred  men — to  ob- 
serve the  whole  front  of  the  Potomac  from  the  Point  of  Rocks  east 
of  the  Blue  Ridge  to  the  western  part  of  Berkeley.  His  personal 
traits  made  him  a  great  favorite  with  all  who  knew  him,  and 
contributed  to  his  success  with  volunteers.  His  animal  spirits 
were  unconquerable,  his  gayety  and  humor  unfailing  ;  he  had  a 
ready  jest  for  all,  and  made  the  forest  ring  with  his  songs  as  he 
marched  at  the  head  of  his  column.  So  great  was  his  activity, 
that  General  Johnston  compared  him  to  that  species  of  hornet 
called  a  "  yellow  jacket,"  and  said  that  "  he  was  no  sooner 
brushed  off  than  he  lit  back  again."  When  the  General  was 
subsequently  transferred  to  the  West,  he  wrote  to  Stuart :  "  How 
can  I  eat,  sleep,  or  rest  in  peace  without  you  upon  the  outpost?" 
The  anticipated  advance  of  the  Federal  forces  soon  began. 
On  the  13th  of  June,  information  reached  General  Johnston  that 
the  town  of  Romney,  about  thirty-seven  miles  west  of  Winches- 


48  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

ter,  was  occupied  by  2,000  Federal  troops,  supposed  to  be  tlier 
advance  force  of  General  McClellan,  and  that  General  Patterson 
was  moving  from  Chambersburg  on  Williamsport.  On  receiv- 
ing this  intelligence,  Johnston  sent  Colonel  A.  P.  Hill  with  three 
regiments  to  check  the  advance  of  the  force  at  Romney,  and 
made  immediate  preparations  to  evacuate  Harper's  Ferry,  and 
fall  back  upon  Winchester.  Active  steps  had  already  been 
taken  in  anticipation  of  the  necessity  of  this  movement.  The 
valuable  machinery  for  manufacturing  muskets  and  rifles  had 
been  removed  to  Richmond,  and  Fayetteville,  North  Carolina, 
and  every  arm  serviceable  and  unserviceable  secured.  All  that 
now  remained  to  be  done  was  to  send  the  heavy  baggage  and 
public  property  still  there  to  Winchester. 

This  was  done,  and  on  the  morning  of  June  14th,  the  long 
railroad  bridge  over  the  Potomac  and  the  public  buildings  were 
set  on  fire.  The  spectacle  was  magnificent.  The  buildings  and 
bridge  were  soon  wrapped  in  flame,  clouds  of  lurid  smoke  dark- 
ened the  landscape,  and  the  troops  gazing  upon  the  scene  felt 
that  the  war  had  commenced  in  earnest. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th,  Johnston  fell  back  from  the 
place,  and,  passing  through  Charlestown,  where  the  troops  were 
warmly  received,  bivouacked  in  the  woods  beyond.  On  the  16th 
he  moved  by  his  right  flank  across  the  country  to  Bunker  Hill, 
on  the  Winchester  and  Martinsburg  turnpike,  and  was  thus  in 
front  of  General  Patterson,  who  had  thrown  a  force  across  at 
Williamsburg,  but  now  withdrew  it,  finding  that  Johnston's  main 
body  was  ready  to  meet  any  advance.  As  soon  as  the  enemy 
were  known  to  have  disappeared  from  his  front,  General  John- 
ston retired  from  Bunker  Hill,  and  concentrated  his  whole  force, 
including  Hill's  command,  which  had  returned  at  Winchester. 


THE  "AFFAIR  AT  FALLING  WATERS."  4-9 

\ 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE    "  AFFAIR   AT    FALLING   WATERS." 

EVERY  thing  remained  quiet,  after  these  movements,  during 
the  month  of  June.  Stuart  was,  as  usual,  in  command  of  the 
front,  and  "  his  increasing  activity  and  vigilance,"  says  General 
Johnston,  "  were  relied  on  to  repress  small  incursions  of  the  en- 
emy, to  give  intelligence  of  invasions  by  them,  and  to  watch, 
harass,  and  circumscribe  their  every  movement."  Johnston, 
then  occupied  in  throwing  up  earthworks  at  Winchester,  de- 
pended upon  this  officer  for  prompt  warning  of  any  movement 
on  the  part  of  General  Patterson  ;  and  this  warning  soon  came. 
Stuart  sent  word  that  the  enemy  were  moving,  and,  on  the  20th 
of  June,  Jackson  was  despatched  with  his  brigade  to  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Martinsburg,  with  orders  to  send  such  of  the  rolling 
stock  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  as  could  be  removed 
to  Winchester,  destroy  the  rest,  and  when  the  enemy  appeared, 
act  as  a  support  to  the  cavalry.  He  was  not,  however,  to  make  a 
decided  stand,  but  feel  his  adversary,  and,  if  hard  pressed,  retire 
toward  Winchester. 

The  high-spirited  young  men  of  the  First  Brigade  received 
the  order  to  march  against  the  enemy  with  enthusiasm ;  and  this 
sentiment  was  not  unshared  by  their  commander.  Jackson's 
love  of  movement,  action,  and  conflict  has  not  been  sufficiently 
dwelt  upon  by  the  writers  who  have  described  the  man  and  his 
career.  To  the  last  he  was  impatient  of  the  inactive  life  of  the 
camp,  and.  in  the  fall  of  1862,  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  ac- 
company General  Stuart  in  his  expedition  around  McClellan,  in 
Maryland,  as  a  volunteer  cavalry  man.  In  June,  1861,  the  or- 
der to  advance  and  "  feel  the  enemy,"  was  received  by  him  with 
unalloyed  satisfaction.  This  was  more  than  shared,  as  we  have 
intimated,  by  his  troops.  They  were  proud  to  have  been  selected 
4 


50  LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

for  this  first  collision,  upon  the  result  of  which  so  much  was  apt 
to  depend,  and  prepared  with  ardor  for  the  march. 

Jackson  was  soon  at  Martinsburg,  from  which  place  he  sent 
a  number  of  locomotives  back  to  Winchester,  drawn  by  teams 
of  horses  over  the  turnpike.  About  forty  engines  and  three  hun- 
dred cars  were  burned,  and  the  brigade  then  advanced  to  sup- 
port the  cavalry  between  Martinsburg  and  Williamsport.  This 
was  the  first  occasion  upon  which  Jackson  and  Stuart,  after- 
wards so  closely  associated,  acted  together  in  face  of  the  enemy. 
Common  recollections  of  "  old  times  in  the  Valley,"  became  a 
bond  of  union  between  them  subsequently,  and  their  friendship 
remained  warm  and  constant  to  the  last.  When  Jackson  fell  at 
Chancellorsville,  his  thoughts  at  once  turned  to  Stuart  as  his 
successor,  and  he  murmured,  "  Tell  him  to  act  upon  his  own 
judgment,  and  do  what  he  thinks  best ;  I  have  implicit  con- 
fidence in  him ; "  and  when  the  news  came  of  his  death,  tears 
gushed  into  Stuart's  eyes,  and  he  said,  in  a  broken  voice,  "  It- 
is  a  national  calamity  ;  Jackson's  loss  is  irreparable." 

These  officers  were  now  to  act  together  in  front  of  the  in- 
vading force  under  Patterson,  and  their  skill,  enterprise,  and 
courage  gave  promise  of  favorable  results.  Stuart  with  his 
cavalry,  and  Jackson  with  his  infantry,  formed  a  dangerous 
combination.  The  one,  living  in  the  saddle  and  watching  with 
lynx-eyed  vigilance,  was  sure  to  discover  every  movement  of  hia 
adversary,  and  promptly  meet  ft ;  the  other,  lying  in  wait,  was 
ready  to  advance  and  try  of  what  mettle  the  invading  column 
was  composed. 

Jackson  encamped  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  little  village 
of  Hainesville,  on  the  road  to  Falling  Waters  and  Williamsport, 
the  camp  of  Colonel  Stuart  being  a  little  in  advance  of  that 
point  in  the  same  direction.  Such  was  the  position  of  the  Con- 
federates when,  on  the  2d  of  July,  the  Federal  army  crossed 
the  Potomac  at  Williamsport.  They  were  commanded  by  Gen- 
eral Patterson  in  person,  and  Jackson  immediately  advanced  to 
receive  their  attack — Colonel  Stuart  having  moved  with  about 
one  hundred  cavalry  by  a  circuitous  road  to  attack  their  flank 


THE  "AFFAIR  AT  FALLING  WATERS."  51 

•and  rear.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  Stuart  captured,  in  per- 
son, forty-four  men.  He  was  detached  from  his  command,  and 
seeing  a  company  of  Federal  infantry  resting  in  a  field,  sepa- 
rated from  him  by  a  fence  and  bars,  determined  to  attempt  their 
capture.  He  accordingly  rode  up  to  the  fence,  ordered  one  of 
the  Federal  soldiers  to  take  down  the  bars,  which  was  done  with 
respectful  alacrity,  under  the  impression,  doubtless,  from  his  blue 
uniform  coat,  that  he  was  an  officer  of  the  United  States  army, 
and  then  thundered,  "  Throw  down  your  arms,  or  you  are  all 
dead  men  !  "  This  stentorian  order  was  obeyed  at  once  by  the 
raw  troops,  who  not  only  dropped  their  arms,  but  fell  upon  their 
faces,  and  were  all  captured.* 

Jackson  had  meanwhile  advanced  to  meet  the  enemy,  taking 
with  him  the  5th  Virginia  infantry,  numbering  three  hundred 
«,nd  eighty  men,  and  Pendleton's  battery  of  four  six-pounders. 
His  object,  he  informed  Captain  Pendleton,  was  "  not  to  fight  a 
battle,  but  to  feel  the  enemy,  strike  a  good  blow,  and  satisfy  him- 
self what  it  was  best  to  do."  The  remainder  of  his  brigade  had 
accordingly  been  left  in  camp,  and  three  of  the  guns  were  soon 
halted,  Jackson  proceeding  with  the  regiment  of  infantry  and 
one  gun  toward  Falling  "Waters.  Near  that  place  he  came  upon 
the  enemy  advancing  from  Williamsport,  their  advance  force 
consisting,  it  is  said  by  Federal  authorities,  of  the  brigades  of 
Abercrombie,  Thomas,  and  Negley,  with  artillery,  and  about 
five  hundred  cavalry.  When  first  seen  the  Federal  column  was 
emerging  from  a  skirt  of  woods  through  which  the  turnpike  ran, 
and  Jackson's  regiment  had  halted  behind  a  hill  which  concealed 
them. 

His  orders,  as  we  have  seen,  were  to  feel  the  enemy  as  they 
advanced,  and  he  now  promptly  made  his  dispositions  to  do  so. 
The  5th  Virginia  was  deployed  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  road, 
the  piece  of  artillery  held  ready  for  action  ;  and  these  arrange- 
ments were  scarcely  made  when  the  rapid  formation  of  line  of 
battle  by  the  Federal  troops  indicated  that  they  had  discovered 

*  This  incident  was  related  to  the  writer  by  General  Stuart. 


52  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

the  presence  of  the  Confederates.  Their  infantry  line  occupied 
the  edge  of  the  skirt  of  woods,  with  a  battery  posted  on  their 
right,  and  a  column  of  cavalry  was  visible  in  rear. 

Jackson  proceeded  here  as  elsewhere  upon  the  rule  that  it  is 
better  to  attack  if  possible,  and  promptly  ordered  his  line  to- 
advance.  Harper's  men  did  so  with  alacrity — were  met  by  the 
Philadelphia  Rangers — and  the  action  began  with  animation  ou 
both  sides,  the  Federal  battery  on  the  right  of  their  line  opening 
a  vigorous  fire  upon  the  Confederates.  In  spite  of  this  fire,  how- 
ever, and  that  of  the  Federal  sharp-shooters,  they  continued  to- 
advance,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  a  farmhouse  and  yard  which 
he  had  occupied,  which  so  elated  the  young  volunteers  that  they 
prepared  to  attack  the  main  Federal  line  of  battle.  Jackson^ 
however,  ordered  them  to  fall  back  from  this  dangerous  position  > 
and  the  movement  having  been  construed  as  a  defeat,  the  Fed- 
eral cavalry  pushed  forward  in  pursuit,  advancing  rapidly  in 
close  column  down  the  turnpike.  They  were  met  by  the  artil- 
lery. Jackson  galloped  back  to  Pendleton's  gun,  which  waa 
under  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and,  pointing  out  the  cavalry,  directed 
him  to  fire  a  shot  at  the  column.  This  was  promptly  done ; 
Captain  Pendleton,  who  had  been  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  giv- 
ing th.3  characteristic  order,  "  Aim  low,  men !  and  may  the 
Lord  have  mercy  on  their  souls ! "  The  shot  struck  the  head 
of  the  cavalry  column,  overthrowing  men  and  horses ;  they 
wheeled  about  in  confusion,  and,  says  an  eye-witness,  "  vanished 
like  phantoms."  The  fire  of  the  six-pounder  was  then  turned 
upon  the  Federal  artillery,  and  one  who  took  part  in  this 
skirmish,  whose  statements  are  always  fair  and  reliable,  de- 
clares that  their  cannoneers  ran  from  the  pieces  at  the  first  shot. 
They  had  better  gunners  afterwards. 

The  action  continued  until  about  noon,  the  Federal  forces 
apparently  fearing  to  advance  incautiously.  The  Confederate 
line  was  no  doubt  regarded  as  the  advance-guard  of  a  much 
heavier  force  near  at  hand,  and  General  Patterson  extended  his 
flanks  to  envelope  Jackson  and  force  him  to  fall  back  upon  his 
supposed  reserves.  This  resulted  as  he  wished,  the  Southern 


JOHNSTON  LEAVES  THE  VALLEY.  53 

•troops  slowly  retiring  to  prevent  being  outflanked  ;  the  loss  upou 
each  side  having  been,  it  is  said,  exactly  the  same — two  men 
killed  and  a  few  wounded. 

The  "  affair  at  Falling  Waters,"  as  Johnston  styles  it  in  his 
official  report,  was  inconsiderable  for  the  force  engaged,  and  de- 
cided nothing ;  but  its  effect  upon  the  morale  of  the  Southern 
troops  was  important.  It  gave  them  confidence  in  themselves, 
since  a  force  of  three  hundred  and  eighty  men  had  been  able  to 
hold  in  check  for  several  hours  an  invading  column  of  many 
thousands  ;  and,  what  was  perhaps  equally  important,  convinced 
them  of  the  coolness  and  soldiership  of  their  commander.  Jack- 
son had  met  the  enemy  with  the  skill  and  nerve  of  the  trained 
soldier ;  and  the  men  afterwards  told  with  admiration  how, 
while  writing  a  despatch  in  the  midst  of  the  action,  a  cannon  ball 
which  tore  the  tree  above  his  head  to  splinters  had  not  made 
him  move  a  muscle  or  discontinue  his  occupation.  These  may 
seem  trifles,  and  some  readers  may  regard  it  as  unnecessary 
trouble  to  state  that  Jackson  had  military  courage.  But  such 
incidents  are  not  trifles  in  war.  They  conciliate  the  confidence 
and  good  feeling  of  troops  ;  and  happy  is  the  general  who  im- 
presses upon  his  men  the  conviction  that  his  nerves  are  beyond 
the  influence  of  danger,  though  death  stare  him  in  the  face. 
The  troops  believed  this  much  of  Jackson  after  the  Falling 
Waters  affair.* 


CHAPTER  X. 

JOHNSTON  LEAVES  THE  VALLEY. 

JACKSON  fell  back  slowly,  continuing  to  show  a  bold  front  to 
the  enemy,  and,  reaching  his  camp,  struck  tents  and  moved  every 
thing  to  the  rear.  He  then  continued  to  retire,  but  about  a  mile 
further  put  his  artillery  in  position,  drew  up  his  brigade,  and,  in 

*  The  writer  is  indebted  to  General  Pendleton  for  a  detailed  account  of 
this  engagement. 


54  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

the  words  of  an  officer  who  was  intimately  associated  with  him 
in  these  movements,  "  determined  to  meet  the  whole  invading 
force  if  it  should  come  up,  satisfied  that  he  could,  by  the  blessing 
of  God,  cripple  if  not  crush  it." 

The  Federal  column  did  not  advance,  however,  upon  him  in 
front.  The  flanking  movement  continued;  and  to  avoid  this, 
Jackson  again  retreated.  Passing  through  Martinsburg  late  in 
the  afternoon,  he  reached  Big  Spring,  about  two  miles  from  the 
town,  on  the  road  to  Winchester,  where  he  bivouacked  for  the 
night.  He  was  still  "  full  of  fight,"  and  anxious  to  bring  on  a 
general  engagement  before  General  Patterson's  full  force  came 
up.  During  the  action  in  the  forenoon  he  had  sent  repeated 
despatches  to  General  Johnston,  announcing  the  state  of  affairs, 
and  urging  him  to  advance  with  his  main  body  and  attack  the 
Federal  commander  before  he  reached  Martinsburg.  Failing  in 
this  hope,  he  still  expected  reinforcements,  and  during  the  entire 
night  of  the  2d  of  July  listened  anxiously  for  the  approach  of 
the  troops  which  would  enable  him  to  attack  Patterson  on  the 
next  day.  The  commands  of  Bee  and  Elzey  were  promised, 
but  they  did  not  come,  and  Jackson's  impatience  amounted 
finally  to  something  nearly  resembling  wrath. 

The  night  passed,  morning  came,  and  the  day  passed  on — 
still  no  reinforcements  came.  General  Patterson  had  mean- 
while advanced  unopposed  and  occupied  Martinsburg,  where- 
upon Jackson  fell  back  again,  halting  this  time  at  the  village  of 
Darksville,  seven  miles  from  the  town.  Here  he  was  met  by 
General  Johnston  with  his  whole  command,  and  the  troops  were 
speedily  disposed  in  line  of  battle  upon  the  hills  and  in  the  fields 
surrounding  the  village.  Filled  with  ardor  at  the  expected 
battle,  Jackson  was  indefatigable  in  marshalling  his  force  for 
the  conflict ;  and,  remaining  hour  after  hour  in  the  saddle,  chose 
carefully  the  position  to  be  occupied  by  each  regiment  of  his 
brigade.  It  was  on  this  occasion,  while  riding  over  the  ground 
with  Captain  Pendleton,  that  he  said :  "  Captain,  I  want  my 
brigade  to  feel  that  it  can  itself  whip  Patterson's  whole  army,, 
and  1  believe  it  can  do  it ! " 


JOHNSTON  LEAVES  THE  VALLEY.  55 

Johnston  remained  at  Darksville,  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle, 
for  four  days.  He  was  unwilling  to  attack  General  Patterson 
in  the  town  of  Martinsburg,  whose  solid  stone  buildings  and  en- 
closures of  masonry  gave  him  every  advantage  against  an  assail- 
ing force,  and  hoped,  by  occupying  a  position  so  threatening  in 
the  Federal  commander's  front,  to  bring  him  out  of  his  defences 
to  battle  in  the  open  fields.  His  own  force  was  less  than  half 
that  of  his  opponent,  and  his  supplies  of  ammunition  were  ter- 
ribly meagre  ;  but  trusting  to  the  valor  of  the  troops,  he  deter- 
mined to  bring  on  a  general  engagement  and  risk  all  results. 

This  challenge  continued,  as  we  have  said,  for  four  days  ; 
the  troops  in  order  of  battle,  and  every  hour  expecting  an  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy.  None,  however,  took  place,  and  on  the 
fourth  day  General  Johnston,  leaving  Stuart  with  his  cavalry  in 
front  of  the  enemy,  moved  with  his  command  back  to  Winches- 
ter, "  much  to  the  disappointment  of  our  troops,  who  were  eager 
for  battle  with  the  invaders."  * 

The  men  on  this  occasion  almost  broke  out  into  open  mur- 
murs. They  had  been  subjected  persistently  day  after  day  to 
the  excitement  of  an  expected  action,  and  now  that  they  were 
ordered  to  fall  into  column  and  march  back,  their  dissatisfaction 
was  bitter,  and  they  construed  the  movement  into  a  want  of 
courage  and  enterprise  on  the  part  of  their  commander.  They 
did  not  know  the  scarred  veteran  commanding  them.  That 
officer  looked  beyond  the  moment,  and  his  course  was  soon  vin- 
dicated by  the  progress  of  events.  Woven  into  the  warp  and 
woot  of  his  thoughts  and  meditations  was  " Manassas" 

A  few  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  army  at  Winchester, 
Jackson  received  his  commission  of  brigadier-general,  remain- 
ing in  command  of  the  First  Brigade,  to  which  was  added  about 
this  time  the  33d  Virginia  regiment,  Colonel  A.  C.  Gumming. 
This  appointment  was  probably  made  at  the  instance  of  General 
Johnston,  who  thoroughly  understood  the  capacity  of  Jackson, 
and  no  doubt  urged  his  promotion.  It  made  little  difference  in 

*  Johnston's  Official  Report 


56  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

his  position,  and  none  at  all  in  his  personal  demeanor  or  appear- 
ance. He  appeared  before  his  brigade  in  the  same  old  gray 
coat  which  he  had  always  worn ;  and  the  only  observable  cir- 
cumstance was  that  the  little  known  individual,  "  Colonel  Jack- 
son," had  assumed  that  name  of  "  General  Jackson,"  by  which 
he  is  now  known. 

No  further  movements  of  interest  marked  the.  campaign  in 
this  region — beginning  and  ending  with  the  skirmish  at  Falling 
Waters ;  and  we  linger  too  long,  perhaps,  amid  these  early 
scenes  of  the  career  which  we  have  undertaken  to  depict. 
Mightier  events  were  on  the  march  ;  the  Federal  authorities 
were  now  ready  to  strike  their  great  blow  at  the  main  body  of 
the  Confederates  at  Manassas.  Here  Jackson  was  to  display, 
in  their  fullest  extent,  those  qualities  of  stubborn  courage  and 
resolution  which  characterized  him,  to  win  his  name  of  ",  Stone- 
wall," and  to  arouse  that  enthusiasm  which  in  the  latter  months 
of  his  life  became  so  universal.  To  this  great  drama  we  shall 
now  proceed. 

General  Patterson  soon  left  Martinsburg,  and  advanced  upon 
Winchester.  His  force,  according  to  the  best  information,  now 
numbered  about  32,000  men,  while  Johnston's  had  been  also 
swollen  by  the  arrival  of  eight  additional  regiments  from  the 
South.  The  design  of  the  Federal  commander  was  to  hold 
General  Johnston  in  check,  while  General  McDowell,  with  the 
"  Grand  Army  "  of  55,000  men,  advanced  to  crush  Beauregard 
at  Manassas.  It  was  now  the  15th  of  July ;  the  Federal  col- 
umns were  in  motion  from  Washington,  and  in  three  days  would 
be  in  front  of  Bull  Run.  General  Patterson  accordingly  moved 
from  Martinsburg — Stuart  retiring  with  his  cavalry  before  him 
— and  on  the  16th  was  in  position  at  Bunker  Hill.  The  critical 
moment  had  now  arrived ;  every  hour  counted.  On  the  17th 
General  Patterson  knew,  by  telegraph,  that  the  "  Grand  Army" 
was  at  Fairfax  Court-House,  within  a  few  hours'  march  of 
Beauregard's  position ;  and  a  further  movement  was  promptly 
made  to  hold  Johnston  in  the  valley.  General  Patterson  swung 
liis  left  wing  round  to  the  little  village  of  Smithfield,  in  the  direc- 


JOHNSTON  LEAVES  THE  VALLEY.  57 

tion  of  Berryville,  and  in  this  position  awaited  any  movement 
of  Johnston,  with  the  evident  design  of  holding  him  in  check,  or 
attacking  him  in  flank  if  he  endeavored  to  march  to  the  assist- 
ance of  Beauregard  by  the  route  of  Ashby's  Gap. 

It  was  only  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  on  the  18th  of 
July,  and  when  the  "  Grand  Army "  had  driven  in  the  Con- 
federate advance  force  at  Manassas,  that  a  telegraphic  despatch 
from  the  Government  at  Richmond  announced  the  critical  state 
of  affairs  to  Johnston.  He  was  directed,  if  practicable,  to  send 
his  sick  back  to  Culpepper  Court-House,  to  evacuate  Winchester, 
and  hasten  to  the  assistance  of  Beauregard. 

The  good  judgment  showed  by  General  Johnston  in  the 
evacuation  of  Harper's  Ferry  now  became  apparent.  The  road 
to  Manassas  was  unobstructed,  and  the  way  open  for  his  march. 
To  go  to  the  assistance  •  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  it  was 
necessary  either  to  defeat  General  Patterson  or  to  elude  him. 
The  latter  course  was  chosen  as  the  most  speedy  and  certain, 
and  preparations  were  immediately  made  to  commence  the 
movement.  The  number  of  the  sick — some  1,700 — rendering 
it  impossible  to  remove  them  at  so  short  a  notice,  they  were  left 
at  Winchester  ;  and  the  defence  of  that  point,  where  some  earth- 
works had  been  thrown  up  and  a  few  heavy  guns  mounted,  was 
entrusted  to  the  militia  of  the  region  under  Generals  Carson  and 
Meem.  Stuart  posted  a  cordon  of  cavalry  pickets  from  the 
neighborhood  of  Smithfield  along  by  Summit  Point  and  Rippon 
to  the  Shenandoah,  completely  cutting  off  all  communication  and 
concealing  every  movement ;  and  having  thus  guarded  against 
every  contingency  in  the  best  manner  possible,  Johnston  left 
Winchester  behind  him,  and  commenced  his  march  by  way  of 
Ashby's  Gap,  toward  the  east. 

The  valley  region  will  long  be  alive  with  traditions  of  this 
great  flank  movement,  and  the  spirit  exhibited  by  the  men. 
They  had  so  often  formed  line  of  battle  in  front  of  the  enemy, 
only  to  retire  afterwards  without  fighting,  that,  as  we  have  said, 
the  troops  at  one  time  nearly  broke  out  into  open  murmurs 
against  their  commander.  They  did  not  know  that  frequently, 


58  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

when  his  bristling  guns  threatened  the  foe  with  their  grim  muz- 
zles from  every  hillock,  those  guns  were  scarcely  supplied  with 
a  round  of  ammunition,  and  that  no  one  could  be  more  disap- 
pointed at  the  necessity  for  retiring  than  the  general  himself. 
Now,  however,  when  the  order  for  the  march  to  Manassas  came, 
all  murmurs  disappeared.  They  responded  eagerly  to  the  in- 
spiring summons,  and  filled  the  air  with  cheers.  Through 
Frederick  and  Clarke,  across  the  Opequon  and  through  the 
little  village  of  Millwood,  wading  the  clear  waters  of  the  She- 
nandoah  with  its  margins  of  drooping  foliage,  and  toiling  up 
the  rough  pathway  through  Ashby's  Gap,  the  troops 'went  upon 
their  way,  without  rations,  ignorant  of  their  destination,  caring 
for  nothing,  and  knowing  one  thing  only,  that  the  moment  for 
action  had  arrived.  On  the  way  a  message  from  Beauregard 
reached  Johnston  by  an  officer  who  killed  his  horse  to  carry  it. 
This  message  was  :  "  If  you  wish  to  help  me,  now  is  the  time." 
Johnston  hastened  on,  his  troops  half  famished,  but  with  spirits 
that  rose  above  hunger  and  fatigue.  Stuart  drew  in  his  pickets, 
slowly  put  his  little  column  in  motion  to  cover  the  rear,  and, 
striking  across  by  Berry ville,  passed  last  through  the  Gap,  and 
then  pushed  on  to  the  front.  At  Piedmont  the  exhausted  in- 
fantry were  embarked  on  a  train  of  the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad  ; 
the  cavalry  and  artillery  continued  their  march,  and  the  Army 
of  the  Shenandoah  hastened  toward  Manassas. 

The  larger  portion  of  the  troops  arrived  about  noon  on  the 
20th  of  July.  Among  the  first  was  Jackson's  brigade,  which 
was  directed  to  take  up  a  position  in  the  pine  thickets  opposite 
Mitchell's  ford,  the  centre  of  the  Confederate  line. 

The  morning  of  the  memorable  21st  found  Jackson  here, 
with  2,611  muskets,  awaiting  orders. 


ADVANCE  OF  THE  GRAND  ARMY.  59 

CHAPTER  XI. 

ADVANCE  OF  THE  GRAND  ARMY. 

THE  battle  of  Manassas  possesses  an  interest  peculiar  to 
itself.  It  was  not  remarkable  for  the  loss  on  either  side ;  in- 
deed, the  casualties  were  comparatively  trifling.  Beyond  ex- 
hibiting the  prowess  of  the  Southern  troops,  it  accomplished  no 
tangible  results.  And  yet  this  battle  will  continue  to  hold  its- 
place  among  the  most  celebrated  conflicts  in  the  annals  of  the 
world. 

The  explanation  of  this  singular  attraction  will  be  found  in  the 
terribly  dramatic  character  of  the  conflict.  It  took  place  under 
circumstances  which  drew  io  the  arena  the  eyes  of  all  the 
world.  Here  two  great  races — members  of  a  Republic  which 
had  held  together  for  three  generations — first  tried  their  strength 
upon  the  battle  field,  and  fought  breast  to  breast  for  victory. 

It  was  the  first  great  battle  of  the  war ;  was  fought  with 
stubborn  persistence  and  enormous  bitterness.  Hour  after  hour' 
the  Northern  and  Southern  lines  reeled  to  and  fro  ou  the  bloody 
plateau,  in  desperate  attempts  to  remain  the  masters  of  it ;  and 
the  world  still  listens  to  the  story  of  the  shifting  fortunes  of  the- 
hard-fought  day  with  indescribable  interest.  Much  more  ab- 
sorbing is  the  subject  to  those  who  took  part  in  the  engagement. 
Its  bloody  scenes  rise  up  once  more  before  the  eyes,  and  its  thun- 
ders again  ring  in  the  memory. 

The  fortunes  of  this  memorable  day  were  decided,  as  we 
shall  show,  by  the  "  First  Brigade  "  of  the  Army  of  the  Shenan- 
doah,  under  Jackson.  The  battle  is  thus  intimately  connected 
with  the  subject  of  this  volume,  and  we  shall .  give  its  main 
events,  leaving,  however,  to  the  regular  historian  of  the  entire 
Revolution,  the  task  of  gathering  up  and  placing  upon  record  the 
minute  details. 

The  blow  about  to  be  struck  at  Manassas  was  intended  by 


60  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

the  Federal  authorities  to  be  decisive,  and  many  things  com 
bined  to  make  them  certain  of  success.  The  North  had  re 
sponded  to  the  appeal  of  the  President  with  immense  prompt- 
ness and  enthusiasm;  and  when  he  called  for  an  army  of 
400,000  meu  and  a  loan  of  $400,000,000,  Congress  had  voted 
these  great  supplies  with  acclamation.  Volunteers  to  invade 
the  South  rushed  to  the  Federal  standard  in  great  numbers,  and 
events  occurring  about  the  middle  of  July  increased  still  further 
the  general  enthusiasm.  General  Pegram,  of  the  Confederate 
army,  was  forced  to  surrender  his  whole  command  at  Rich 
Mountain,  in  Western  Virginia,  and  General  Garnett  was  de- 
feated and  killed  at  Carrick's  ford.  Everywhere  disaster  seemed 
to  attend  the  Southern  arms,  and  there  appeared.to  be  some  jus- 
tice in  the  dictum  of  the  Northern  journalists,  who  had  described 
the  revolution  as  a  "  local  commotion "  only,  or,  in  language 
still  more  forcible,  as  an  "  unborn  tadpole."  Until  the  capital  of 
the  Confederacy,  however,  was  captured,  and  the  government 
dispersed,  the  great  end  was  unaccomplished.  The  Southern 
forces  at  Manassas  lay  in  the  path ;  Patterson  had  accomplished 
nothing  against  Johnston,  and  to  defeat  these  two  bodies  of 
troops  was  essential  to  the  Federal  success.  To  attain  this  im- 
portant object,  what  was  called  by  the  newspapers  the  "  Grand 
Army  "  was  speedily  organized  at  Washington. 

Great  attention  was  paid  to  the  organization  and  equipment 
of  this  force,  upon  which  so  much  depended.  The  troops  were 
armed  with  the  best  weapons,  and  the  artillery  was  numerous 
and  excellent.  The  cavalry  arm  was  numerous  but  defective, 
and  two  or  three  years  of  hard  fighting  were  necessary  to  show 
the  importance  of  that  branch  to  the  service ;  but  at  this  time 
cavalry  was  not  considered  necessary.  It  was  universally  be- 
lieved at  the  North  that  the  splendid  body  of  infantry  assembled 
at  Washington  would  be  able  to  march,  without  serious  opposi- 
tion, to  Richmond,  and  the  campaign  appears  to  have  been  re- 
garded rather  as  a  summer  excursion  than  as  the  initial  move- 
ment of  a  long  and  bloody  war.  This  conviction  was  apparent 
in  the  personal  equipments  of  the  men,  and  the  articles  of  con- 


ADVANCE  OF  THE  GRAND  ARMY.  61 

venience  and  luxury  which  they  carried  with  them.  The  army 
rations  were  varied  by  large  supplies  of  preserved  meats,  cor- 
dials, liquors,  wines,  and  every  luxury  to  tempt  the  palate. 
Excellent  oil-cloths  protected  the  troops  from  the  damp,  and 
white  "havelocks"  warded  off  the  burning  rays  of  the  sun. 
The  march  was  looked  upon  as  a  frolic. 

With  the  United  States  regulars,  who  had  been  summoned 
from  the  West,  the  "  Grand  Army  "  amounted,  by  Federal  ac- 
counts, to  about  55,000  men,  with  9  regiments  of  cavalry,  and 
12  batteries  of  rifled  artillery,  numbering  49  guns.  It  was 
placed  under  the  command  of  Major-General  Irwin  Mc- 
Dowell, an  officer  of  ability,  and  its  movements  directed  by 
Lieutenant-General  Winfield  Scott,  a  Virginian,  who  had  re- 
tained his  position  in  the  United  States  Army,  and  now  com- 
manded all  the  Federal  armies. 

Such  was  the  force  which  was  ready  by  the  middle  of  July 
to  advance  upon  General  Beauregard  at  Manassas.  His  own 
army  consisted  of  21,833  muskets,  and  29  pieces  of  smooth-bore 
artillery,  with  about  3  companies  of  cavalry.  By  the  arrival 
subsequently  of  General  Johnston,  with  8,333  muskets,  300 
cavalry,  and  20  guns,  and  General  Holmes  from  the  lower  Po- 
tomac, with  1,265  muskets  and  6  guns,  Beauregard's  force 
was  increased  to  31,431  muskets,  55  guns,  and  about  500  cav- 
alry. 

The  Confederate  commander  had  taken  position  upon  Bull 
Run,  a  small  watercourse  which  rises  near  Aldie,  and  flowing 
around  Manassas  Junction,  empties  into  the  Occoquan.  The 
banks  of  this  stream  were  abrupt,  and  densely  wooded ;  but  it 
was  fordable  in  numerous  places,  and  was  crossed  on  the  Centre- 
ville  and  Warrenton  road,  below  Sudley  Church,  by  the  "  Stone 
Bridge,"  a  solid  and  not  unpicturesque  structure  of  brown  stone, 
near  which  the  battle  of  Manassas  was  fought. 

General  Beauregard  had  posted  his  troops  along  this  water- 
course, behind  earthworks,  from  Union  Mills  nearly  to  Stone 
Bridge,  a  distance  of  about  eight  miles,  ready  to  meet  the  Federal 
forces  should  they  attempt  to  cross  at  any  of  the  fords.  His 


62  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

centre  rested  at  Mitchell's  ford,  on  the  direct  road  from  Centre- 
ville  to  Manassas ;  and  opposite  this  point,  Jackson,  it  will  be 
remembered,  had  been  directed  to  take  up  his  position. 

The  Federal  army  moved  forward  on  the  16th  of  July,  and 
on  the  morning  of  the  17th  entered  Fairfax  Court-House,  Gen- 
eral Bonham,  who  commanded  the  Confederate  advance  guard 
at  that  place,  retiring  slowly  before  them.  He  continued  to  fall 
back  all  day,  his  rear  skirmishing  with  the  Federal  advance  ; 
and  after  making  a  brief  stand  at  Centreville  after  dark,  ^,nd 
throwing  up  signals  to  warn  General  Beauregard  of  his  approach, 
retired,  at  daylight  on  the  18th,  within  the  lines  on  Bull  Run. 

About  ten  in  the  forenoon  the  enemy  appeared,  and  opened 
an  artillery  fire  upon  the  Confederate  centre  at  Mitchell's  ford  ; 
but  the  dense  woods  concealed  the  troops  from  view,  and  no 
loss  was  inflicted.  This  was  followed  by  an  obstinate  attack 
upon  General  Longstreet,  who  was  placed  with  1,200  muskets 
at  Blackburn's  ford  below.  A  force  of  about  3,000  Federal 
infantry  drove  in  his  advance  on  the  north  bank  of  the  stream, 
and,  supported  by  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery,  attempted  to  force 
their  way  across  the  ford.  Three  vigorous  charges  were  made 
to  attain  this  object,  but  all  were  repulsed.  Longstreet's  in- 
fantry, although  unprotected  by  earthworks,  fought  with  great 
nerve,  and  the  Federal  infantry  finally  retired  ;  the  affair  turning 
into  an  "  artillery  duel,"  as  General  Beauregard  styled  it,  in 
which  the  guns  of  the  Washington  Artillery  of  New  Orleans 
were  handled  with  great  skill,  and  inflicted  some  loss  upon  the 
enemy.  Soon  afterwards  the  Federal  infantry  retired  from 
Longstreet's  front. 

Such  was  "  the  battle  of  the  18th,"  as  it  is  called— the  pre- 
lude to  the  greater  struggle  on  the  21st.  The  Confederate  loss 
was  15  killed  and  55  wounded  ;  the  Federal  loss  64  left  dead 
upon  the  field,  the  number  wounded  not  known. 

These  two  unsuccessful  attacks,  at  Mitchell's  and  Black- 
burn's fords,  upon  the  Confederate  front,  induced  the  Federal 
commander  to  abandon  the  further  attempt  to  break  through 
Beauregard's  line.  His  attention  was  now  turned  to  the  left 


o 


^/fa^^w*')'* 


MANASSAS.  63 

flatik  of  the  Confederate  army,  and  preparations  were  made  to 
strike  a  decisive  blow  in  that  direction. 

On  the  night  of  the  20th  all  was  ready  for  this  movement, 
and  at  daylight  on  the  21st  the  Federal  columns  were  far  upon 
their  way. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

MANASSAS. 

A  GLANCE  at  the  map  will  give  the  reader  a  clearer  idea  of 
the  movements  which  now  took  place,  than  any  description  can 
convey. 

Beauregard's  forces  were  strung  out  along  the  southern 
bank  of  Bull  Run,  over  a  space  of  nearly  eight  miles — from 
Union  Mills  to  Stone  Bridge  ;  and  the  design  of  the  Federal 
commander  was  to  move  his  main  body  silently  through  the 
woods  to  the  Confederate  left,  cross  the  upper  fords  of  the 
stream,  and.  falling  upon  Beauregard's  flank,  drive  him  back 
upon  Manassas,  or  cut  him  off  completely  from  that  base.  He 
would  then  be  compelled  to  hasten  from  his  earthworks,  form 
line  of  battle  anew  with  a  powerful  enemy  pressing  him,  and,  in 
case  he  was  defeated,  as  he  probably  would  be,  the  victory 
would  be  decisive. 

The  details  of  the  plan  of  operations  betrayed  the  skilful 
hand  of  Lieutenant-General  Scott.  One  division  of  about 
16,000  men  was  to  remain  behind  at  Centreville,  to  protect  the 
Federal  communications ;  another  to  march  to  Stone  Bridge 
with  orders  to  make  demonstrations  there  ;  and  a  third  to  move 
up  to  Red  House  ford,  with  directions  to  wait  until  that  point 
was  uncovered  Then  a  third  was  to  cross  at  Sudley  ford,  still 
higher  up,  and  drive  away  the  Confederate  forces  at  Red  House 
ford  and  Stone  Bridge,  when  the  divisions  there  would  cross ; 
and  thus  a  force  of  about  40,000  men  would  be  concentrated 
upon  the  southern  banks  of  Bull  Run,  directly  upon  Beauregard's 


64  LIFE    OF    STOXEWALL    JACKSON. 

left  flank.  Then  one  determined  charge,  and  the  end  would 
crown  the  work. 

The  movements  to  attain  this  object  commenced  in  presence 
of  a  great  crowd  of  spectators — editors,  idlers,  sensation  hunters, 
and  even  ladies — who  had  hastened  with  eager  curiosity  from 
the  Federal  capital  to  witness  the  defeat  of  the  Southern  forces. 
Champagne  and  every  delicacy  had  been  sent  to  Centreville  to 
celebrate  the  anticipated  victory  ;  and  on  the  20th  that  town  and 
the  camps  around  it  were  the  scene,  it  is  said,  of  something  like 
a  carnival.  The  excited  crowd  were  listening  for  the  thunder 
of  the  guns  from  those  "  mysterious  Virginia  forests  "  so  often 
mentioned,  and  there  was  little  or  no  doubt  in  ,any  mind  of  the 
result.  Lieutenant-General  Scott,  and  others  who  knew  some 
what  better  the  mettle  of  the  South,  probably  experienced  no 
little  anxiety  ;  but  the  crowd  of  spectators  seem  to  have  been 
firm  in  their  faith  of  a  great  Federal  triumph. 

Meanwhile  the  columns  were  moving,  and  during  the  night 
of  the  20th  scouts  brought  word  to  General  Beauregard,  who 
directed  operations  under  General  Johnston,  that  the  enemy 
were  concentrating  on  the  Warrenton  road.  The  probability  of 
an  attack  upon  the  Confederate  left  wing  was  apparent,  and  at 
four  in  the  morning  orders  were  despatched  to  all  his  command- 
ers, by  General  Beauregard,  to  hold  the  troops  in  readiness  to 
march  at  a  moment's  warning.  The  design  was,  as  soon  as  the 
enemy's  intentions  were  fully  developed,  to  advance  and  attack 
him  in  flank  and  reverse  at  Centrevilie,  a  point  completely  in  his 
rear.  This  excellent  plan  was  never  carried  out,  however,  owing 
to  some  fatality  which  attended  the  transmission  of  the  orders  ; 
and  the  battle  of  Manassas  commenced  and  ended  south  of  the 
Stone  Bridge. 

The  ground  there  is  an  extensive  plateau,  rising  about  one 
hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  stream,  and  consisting  of 

7  O 

open  fields,  which  fall  off  in  gentle  slopes,  furrowed  at  intervals 
by  ravines.  In  these  ravines  grew  clumps  of  bushes,  and  the 
southern  and  eastern  brows  of  the  plateau  were  skirted  with  a 
thick  growth  of  young  pines.  The  only  buildings  to  be  seen 


MANA8SA8.  65 

were  the  Henry  and  Robinson  houses,  plain  wooden  structures, 
and  the  well-known  "  stone  house  "  near  the  intersection  of  the 
"Warrenton  road,  and  that  extending  from  Manassas  to  Sudley 
ford,  which  is  known  as  the  Sudley-Brentsville  road.  Near 
this  point  was  a  belt  of  oak  forest,  where  the  final  struggle  took 
place. 

The  Federal  advance  force  was  moving  toward  the  Confed- 
erate left  all  night,  and,  following  a  narrow  road  through  the 
"  Big  Forest,"  reached  Sudley  ford  about  eight  in  the  morn- 
ing. This  column  consisted  of  Hunter's  and  Heintzelman's 
divisions  ;  and  the  division  opposite  Stone  Bridge  having  opened 
fire  on  the  Confederates  and  attracted  their  attention,  General 
Hunter  at  once  threw  his  command  across,  and  advanced  rapidly 
to  the  attack. 

The  extreme  Confederate  left  at  Stone  Bridge  was  held  by 
Colonel  Evans,  with  fifteen  companies  of  infantry  and  Latham's 
battery  of  smooth-bore  six-pounders.  He  did  not  reply  to  the 
artillery  fire  of  the  enemy,  his  guns  being  useless  for  that  pur- 
pose ;  but  when  they  threw  forward  a  line  of  skirmishers,  met 
them  and  engaged  in  a  desultory  skirmish,  which  lasted  for  three 
hours  without  result.  It  was  now  half-past  eight,  and  General 
Hunter  was  over.  Evans  had  become  convinced  that  the  attack 
upon  him  was  merely  a  demonstration  to  cover  other  objects, 
and  intelligence  soon  reached  him  showing  the  truth  of  this  sur- 
mise. A  heavy  force  was  reported  to  be  moving  against  his 
flank,  and,  taking  eleven  of  his  fifteen  companies,  he  hastened 
forward  by  the  Carter  house,  and,  drawing  up  his  line  across  the 
Sudley-Brentsville  road,  with  his  artillery  on  the  high  ground  in 
rear,  received  the  enemy's  attack. 

The  conflict  which  immediately  took  place  at  this  point 
was  very  severe.  The  force  of  Colonel  Evans  was  800  in- 
fantry and  two  six-pound  guns ;  that  of  General  Hunter,  by 
Federal  accounts,  16,000  infantry,  7  companies  of  cavalry,  and 
24  pieces  of  artillery ;  of  which  force  3,500  muskets  and  8  guns 
were  at  once  thrown  forward  into  action.  The  Federal  division 
hastening  down  from  Red  House  ford  would  make  the  force  op- 


66  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

posed  to  Evans  not  far  from  30,000  men,  and  to  check  this  coT- 
umn  even  for  a  moment,  with  800  muskets,  seemed  impossible. 
It  was  necessary,  however,  to  make  the  attempt,  and  the  men 
responded  with  ardor.  The  regiment  was  the  4th  South  Caro- 
lina, supported  by  a  company  of  Wheat's  battalion,  and  the  men 
were  called  on  at  once  to  meet  a  vigorous  charge  of  the  2d  Rhode 
Island,  supported  by  the  fire  of  six  thirteen-pound  rifles.  The 
struggle  was  bitter  and  determined.  Wheat  was  severely 
wounded,  but  his  Louisianians  fought  only  the  harder  for  it, 
and  Evans  succeeded  in  repulsing  the  charge.  His  object  now 
was  to  hold  his  ground  as  long  as  possible,  in  order  to  give 
General  Beauregard  time  to  send  forward  reinforcements  and 
form  his  new  line  of  battle  ;  and  the  difficulty  which  the  enemy 
experienced  in  forcing  him  back  is  a  high  compliment  to  Colonel 
Evans  and  his  men.  They  fought  with  desperation,  but  were 
slowly  being  pressed  back  by  the  heavy  Federal  line  when  the 
promised  succor  came.  General  Bee,  who  had  been  ordered  to 
repair  as  quickly  as  possible  with  his  own  command  and  that  of 
General  Bartow  to  the  left,  reached  the  plateau  in  rear  of  Evans 
while  the  fight  was  raging,  and  perceiving  the  strength  of  the 
position,  drew  up  his  whole  command,  consisting  of  four  regi- 
ments, two  companies,  and  a  battery,  near  the  "  Henry  house.'* 
Finding,  however,  that  Colonel  Evans  was  hard  pressed,  he 
promptly  advanced  to  his  assistance,  and,  reaching  the  field  of 
action,  disposed  his  forces  upon  Evans'  right,  with  his  battery 
on  the  high  ground  in  rear.  He  arrived  just  in  time.  The 
Southern  line  was  just  giving  way  before  the  advance  of  fresh 
Federal  troops,  which  poured  in  a  steady  and  destructive  fire, 
when  the  appearance  of  the  Confederate  reenforcement  gave  a 
new  aspect  to  affairs.  Bee  rapidly  advanced  with  his  four  regi- 
ments— the  7th  and  8th  Georgia,  4th  Alabama,  and  2d  Missis- 
sippi— and,  taking  command  of  the  field,  threw  himself  with 
ardor  into  the  action. 

It  was  at  once  renewed  with  additional  fury.  Bee's  regi- 
ments fought  with  such  gallantry,  that,  as  one  of  them  afterwards, 
with  thinned  and  bleeding  ranks,  marched  off  the  field,  General 


MANASSAS.  67 

Beauregard  raised  his  hat  as  they  passed,  and  exclaimed,  "  I 
salute  the  8th  Georgia  with  my  hat  off !  History  shall  never 
forget  you  ! "  The  gallantry  of  the  others  was  equally  marked, 
and  for  an  hour  the  blended  commands  of  Bee  and  Evans  faced 
the  great  force  opposed  to  them  unmoved.  The  moment  came, 
however,  when  the  term  of  further  resistance  was  reached. 
Many  officers  had  fallen,  the  men  were  exhausted,  and  still  the 
dark  columns  of  Federal  infantry  grew  heavier  as  their  rear 
closed  up.  Bee's  force,  with  that  of  Evans,  was  somewhat  more 
than  five  regiments,  with  six  guns ;  the  force  opposed  to  him, 
from  Federal  accounts,  two  divisions,  consisting  of  eight 
brigades,  with  seventeen  companies  of  regular  infantry,  cavalry, 
and  artillery,  and  twenty  rifle  pieces. 

In  face  of  this  great  odds  Bee  was  slowly  forced  to  give 
ground.  His  thin  lines  were  swept  by  a  destructive  fire  of  mus- 
ketry from  the  Federal  troops,  sheltered  behind  stone  fences, 
and  the  rifle  guns  of  Ricketts  and  others  filled  the  air  with  a 
whirlwind  of  iron.  General  Bartow,  Bee's  second  in  command, 
had  had  his  horse  shot  under  him,  and  was  fighting  on  foot ; 
Wheat  had  been  borne  from  the  field,  and  the  ground  over  which 
the  opposing  lines  had  fought  was  covered  with  dead  bodies  and 
bathed  in  blood.  The  astonishing  spectacle  had  been  presented 
of  regiments  holding  their  ground  against  brigades,  and  sustain- 
ing without  confusion  the  fire  of  many  times  their  number  for 
hours  ;  but  the  men  were  now  exhausted,  hope  began  to  desert 
them,  and  Bee  saw  that  he  must  fall  back  in  the  best  order  he 
could  to  escape  destruction.  He  gave  the  order  to  retire  just  as 
the  brigades  of  Sherman  and  Keyes,  which  had  crossed  at  Red 
House  ford,  pressed  down  upon  his  flank. 

The  scene  which  ensued  was  one  of  painful  disaster  to  the 
Southerners.  The  Federal  troops  swept  forward  with  triumph- 
ant cheers,  and  as  Bee's  shattered  battalions  fell  back  in  full  re- 
treat, poured  into  them  a  more  rapid  and  galling  fire  than  before. 
The  Federal  artillery  redoubled  its  fire,  and  the  retreat  became 
•every  moment  more  disordered.  The  bristling  battalions  of 
Federal  infantry  rushed  upon  their  prey  ;  the  merciless  fusillade 


68  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

continued  without    intermission,    and   the   fields   were   strewed1 
with  the  dying  and  the  dead.     Dust,  blood,  the  lightning  of  mus- 
ketry, and  the  thunder  of  artillery,  made  the  scene  one  of  inex 
pressible  anguish  and  despair. 

Bee  had  aimed  to  retire  in  something  like  order  to  the 
plateau  near  the  Henry  house,  and  make  a  stand  there,  in  a 
stronger  position  ;  but  the  quick  eye  of  the  soldier  now  told  him 
that  all  was  lost.  No  exertions  which  he  made  could  restore 
good  order ;  and  though  he  rode  to  and  fro,  amid  the  storm  of 
bullets,  beseeching  the  troops  by  all  they  held  dear  to  rally  to 
their  colors  until  reinforcements  came,  he  could  not  reform  his 
line.  His  voice  was  not  heard,  or  his  commands  were  disobeyed. 
All  was  over. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  things  when  the  glitter  of  bayonets 
caught  the  eyes  of  Bee,  beyond  the  Henry  house  hill ;  and  a 
courier  brought  word  that  the  reenforcementg  were  coming  at 
last.  Bee  galloped  in  the  direction  of  the  fresh  troops ;  they 
were  the  First  Brigade,  under  Jackson.  He  had  been  sent  some 
time  before  to  support  General  Cocke,  below  Stone  Bridge,  but, 
hearing  the  hot  fire  upon  the  left,  had  moved  his  brigade  in  that 
direction.  As  he  pressed  on  rapidly,  the  disordered  troops  of 
Bee  and  Evans  swept  by  toward  the  rear,  but  the  First  Brigade 
continued  to  advance.  All  at  once  Bee  appeared,  approaching  at 
full  gallop,  and  he  and  Jackson  were  soon  face  to  face.  The 
latter  was  cool  and  composed ;  Bee,  covered  with  dust  and 
sweat,  with  his  drawn  sword  in  his  hand,  his  horse  foaming. 
In  the  bitter  despair  of  his  heart  he  eould  only  groan  outr 
"  General,  they  are  beating  us  back  ! " 

The  face  of  Jackson  betrayed  no  corresponding  emotion. 
He  had  his  "  war  look"  on,  but  that  was  never  a  look  of  excite- 
ment. His  eye  glittered,  and,  in  the  curt  tone  habitual  with  him, 
he  said  coolly,  "  Sir,  we  will  give  them  the  bayonet." 

These  words  seemed  to  act  upon  Bee  like  the  ring  of  a 
clarion.  He  galloped  back  to  his  men,  and,  pointing  with  his 
sword  to  Jackson,  shouted,  "  Look !  there  is  Jackson  standing 
like  a  stone  wall !  Let  us  determine  to  die  herer  and  we  will 


MAJSTASSAS.  69 

conquer  !  "  His  command  was  partially  rallied  ;  the  detach- 
ments took  their  position  on  the  right,  and  Jackson's  line  swept 
steadily  on  toward  the  plateau. 

In  a  moment  the  whole  aspect  of  affairs  had  undergone  a 
change.  The  Federal  fofees,  which  were  rushing  forward  in 
pursuit  of  the  broken  battalions  of  Bee,  saw  themselves  suddenly 
confronted  by  2,600  bayonets,  and  their  advance  was  checked. 
At  the  same  moment  the  600  infantry  of  Colonel  Wade  Hamp- 
ton, who  had  held  the  "Warrenton  road  against  Keyes,  repulsing 
him,  until  his  position  was  completely  flanked,  fell  back  and 
took  position  on  the  right.  Met  thus  by  Jackson  and  by  Hamp- 
ton, whose  splendid  nerve  was  afterwards  exhibited  upon  so 
many  memorable  fields,  the  Federal  lines  came  to  a  halt.  The 
First  Brigade  was  in  position,  the  troops  ready  and  eager.  From 
this  rock  the  wave  went  back. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  presence  of  Jackson  at  this  crisis 
saved  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  No  other  troops  were  near,  and 
in  thirty  minutes  the  enemy  would  have  been  strongly  posted 
upon  the  plateau  near  the  Henry  house .  The  retreat  of  General 
Beauregard  upon  Manassas  would  have  followed,  or  a  desperate 
assault  upon  earthworks  occupied  by  the  bulk  of  the  Federal  army. 

The  current  of  battle,  only  for  a  moment  checked,  now  began 
to  move  again  with  greater  force  than  before.  The  Federal 
battalions  pressed  across  the  Warrenton  road,  and  rapidly  ad- 
vanced toward  the  Henry  house,  where  the  hottest  portion  of 
the  struggle  was  to  take  place.  Jackson  had  formed  his  line 
just  under  the  eastern  crest  of  the  plateau,  with  Hampton  and 
the  shattered  remnants  of  the  commands  of  Bee  and  Evans  in  a 
ravine  and  forest  on  his  right ;  in  front  of  him  he  had  placed  two 
guns  of  Stanard's  battery,  which  kept  up  a  steady  fire  as  the 
enemy  continued  to  advance.  The  4th  and  27th  Virginia  infan 
try  formed  his  centre,  the  5th  Virginia  his  right,  and  the  2 
and  33d  Virginia  his  left.  The  instructions  given  by  Jackson  to 
his  troops  were,  "  to  charge  the  enemy  with  the  bayonet  so  soon 
as  they  should  appear  over  the  crest,  and  within  about  fifty  yards."* 

*  Jackson  to  Colonel  J.  M.  Bennett,  July  28th,  1861,  in  Appendix. 


70  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

As  Jackson  took  position  to  check  the  Federal  advance, 
Generals  Johnston  and  Beauregard  appeared  upon  the  field. 
They  had  up  to  that  time  remained  upon  a  lofty  hill  in  rear  of 
Mitchell's  ford,  near  the  centre  of  the  Confederate  line,  and, 
hearing  the  continuous  roar  upon  thewft,  had  waited  anxiously, 
says  General  Beauregard,  for  similar  sounds  from  the  front,  as 
an  order  had  been  sent  for  the  whole  right  wing  of  the  army  to 
advance  and  attack  the  enemy  at  Centreville.  At  half-past  ten 
a  despatch  from  General  Ewell,  at  Union  Mills,  conveyed  the 
mortifying  intelligence  that  the  order  had  never  been  received  ;  and 
as  it  was  now  too  late  to  make  the  movement,  the  whole  attention 
of  the  Confederate  commanders  was  directed  to  the  left.  The 
entire  body  of  reserves  was  ordered  to  repair  without  delay  to 
that  point,  and  Johnston  and  Beauregard  set  out  at  a  rapid 
gallop  for  the  scene  of  action,  which  they  reached  about  noon, 
just  as  Jackson  had  opened  fire  with  his  artillery. 

The  spectacle  at  this  moment  was  one  of  absorbing  interest. 
Through  the  dust  and  smoke  which  filled  the  valleys  and  swept 
across  the  hills,  were  seen  the  heavy  masses  of  Federal  infantry 
rapidly  forming  upon  the  plateau  ;  and  from  this  cloud  came  the 
thunder  of  artillery,  the  roll  of  musketry,  and  the  confused 
shouts  of  the  combatants.  At  a  single  coup  d'oeil,  the  glance 
embraced  the  artillery-swept  plateau  and  the  sheltering  ravines, 
the  glitter  of  bayonets,  the  red  glare  of  the  cannon,  and  the 
forms  of  the  officers  as  they  passed  to  and  fro  rallying  or  cheer- 
ing on  the  troops.  Jackson's  men  could  scarcely  be  seen.  They 
were  lying  down  in  line  of  battle,  under  the  crest  of  the  plateau, 
awaiting  the  order  to  advance. 

Generals  Johnston  and  Beauregard  found  affairs  in  a  most 
critical  condition.  Lee  and  Evans  were  overpowered,  and  un- 
less Jackson  and  Hampton  could  hold  their  position  until  ree'n- 
forcements  arrived,  the  day  was  lost.  Galloping  up  and  down 
the  disordered  lines  of  Bee,  they  appealed  to  the  men  by  all  they 
valued  on  earth  to  rally  to  their  standards  ;  and  seizing  the  colors 
of  the  4th  Alabama,  Johnston  led  them  forward,  and  formed 
them  in  face  of  a  heavy  fire.  Beauregard  was  meanwhile  en- 


HANASSAS.  71 

gaged  in  cheering  on  the  men  in  every  portion  of  the  field.  The 
animation  of  his  Creole  blood  burned  in  his  dark  face,  and  rang 
in  the  inspiring  tones  of  his  voice,  as  in  brief  soldierly  phrase  he 
called  upon  the  troops  to  follow  him.  As  the  reserves  came  up, 
he  rapidly  formed  them  under  heavy  fire,  and  soon  had  a  line 
of  battle  consisting  of,  on  the  extreme  right,  Bee  and  Evans  ;  in  the 
centre,  Jackson,  with  his  four  regiments,  and  thirteen  guns  under 
Colonel  Pendleton ;  and  on  the  left,  the  remnant  of  the  7th 
Georgia,  the  49th  Virginia  battalion,  the  2d  Mississippi,  and  the 
6th  North  Carolina.  Hampton's  legion,  the  8th  Virginia,  and 
Jackson's  5th  Virginia  supported  the  right,  as  a  reserve.  On 
the  right  of  all  was  a  company  of  cavalry,  and  on  the  extreme 
left  flank,  another  under  Stuart. 

This  force  consisted  of  6,500  infantry  and  cannoneers,  2  com- 
panies of  cavalry,  and  13  pieces  of  artillery.  The  Federal 
force  in  line  of  battle,  by  their  official  statement,  was  some- 
what more  than  20,000  infantry,  with  7  companies  of  regular 
cavalry  and  24  pieces  of  artillery.  About  35,000  reserves  were 
at  Centreville,  Stone  Bridge,  and  opposite  the  lower  fords. 

The  coming  shock  was  to  be  borne  by  the  Confederate  cen- 
tre, composed  of  the  Virginia  regiments  of  Jackson.  Fresh, 
thoroughly  disciplined,  and  commanded  by  a  soldier  of  known 
coolness  and  courage,  these  regiments  were  rightly  regarded  as 
the  chief  dependence  of  the  Confederate  commander  in  holding 
his  ground  until  reinforcements  arrived.  Jackson  was  indefati- 
gable in  encouraging  his  men,  and  rode  up  and  down  his  lines 
in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  fire,  with  an  unconcern  which  had  an 
excellent  effect  upon  the  untried  youths  of  his  command.  He 
had  placed  his  artillery  in  front,  without  cover,  and  the  can- 
noneers served  the  pieces  with  ardor,  returning  rapidly  the  fire 
of  the  Federal  batteries,  which  were  planted  upon  every  rising 
ground  in  front.  "  I  fully  expected  them  all  to  be  killed  in  that 
position,"  he  said  afterwards,  "  yet  felt  that  the  occasion  de- 
manded the  sacrifice."  His  infantry  was  lying  down  about  one 
hundred  yards  in  rear  of  the  guns,  and  as  the  familiar  figure  of 
their  commander  passed  to  and  fro  on  his  bay  horse,  the  men 


72  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

heard  the  calm  lips  utter  constantly  the  words,  "  Steady,  boys  1 
steady — all's  well ! "  Those  who  saw  him  on  this  occasion 
noticed  especially  his  coolness.  "  A  more  earnest  yet  calm  ex- 
pression," says  General  Pendleton,  "  I  have  never  seen  upon 
human  countenance." 

No  material  change  took  place  in  the  positions  of  the  op- 
posing forces  until  about  two  o'clock,  when  the  Federal  lines 
were  pushed  forward,  and  their  batteries  advanced,  inclining 
to  the  right,  with  the  evident  intention  of  securing  an  oblique 
fire  upon  Jackson's  front.  In  doing  so  one  of  them  approached 
so  near  Colonel  Cummings'  regiment — the  33d  Virginia — that  he 
charged  and  captured  it,  but  owing  to  the  destructive  fire  of 
musketry  was  obliged  to  retire  and  abandon  the  guns.  Thia 
movement  of  their  artillery  was  the  prelude  to  a  new  and  more 
determined  advance  of  the  Federal  troops.  Their  infantry, 
swarming  upon  the  face  of  the  plateau,  was  massed  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  Henry  house,  and  all  at  once  the  bristling  lines  were 
thrown  forward,  and  hurled  with  fury  upon  the  Confederate  cen- 
tre. As  they  moved,  the  artillery  under  Pendleton  greeted  them 
with  a  discharge  of  canister  at  close  range,  and  then  withdrew 
at  a  gallop  to  the  high  ground  across  the  little  valley,  where 
they  continued  to  fire  upon  the  Federal  forces  as  they  rushed 
forward  at  a  double-quick  to  the  charge. 

Jackson  met  this  charge  with  the  bayonet.  They  were  now 
so  close  upon  him,  as,  in  his  own  words,  "  to  call  for  the  free 
use  of  the  bayonet ;  and  I  accordingly  ordered  the  charge  to  be 
made,  which  cut  the  enemy's  centre,  and  thus  separated  his 
wings."  The  scene  described  and  dismissed  in  these  few  simple 
words,  was  one  of  the  most  stirring  and  magnificent  spectacles 
of  the  war.  The  long  and  glittering  lines  of  Federal  infantry, 
supported  by  the  fire  of  their  finest  batteries,  were  almost  in 
contact  with  Jackson,  when  he  ordered  his  men  to  charge. 
They  responded  with  wild  cheers,  and,  firing  a  heavy  volley, 
rushed  forward  with  all  the  ardor  of  volunteers.  The  enemy 
met  them  with  determination ;  and  with  one  mad  yell  arising 
from  both  adversaries,  and  mingling  its  savage  echoes,  the  sur 


MAN  A  88  A  8.  73 

ging  masses  came  together.  The  scene  which  followed  is  inde- 
scribable. The  thunder  of  artillery  and  the  sustained  crash  of 
musketry  rolled  like  some  diabolical  concert  across  the  hills,  and 
the  opposing  lines  were  lost  in  a  dense  cloud  of  smoke,  from 
which  rose  shouts,  yells,  cheers,  and  the  groans  of  the  dying. 

Jackson  had  charged  without  orders,  from  the  necessity  of 
his  situation ;  but  General  Beauregard,  it  seems,  had  at  nearly 
the  same  moment  ordered  his  whole  front  to  advance.  At 
this  order  the  troops  rushed  to  the  attack  with  an  ardor  and 
enthusiasm  never  afterwards  surpassed  during  the  war.  The 
men  seemed  inspired  with  a  species  of  fury  almost,  which  made 
them  careless  of  wounds  and  death.  One  who  was  carried  dy- 
ing from  the  field,  exclaimed,  with  clenched  hands,  "  They've 
done  for  me  now,  but  my  father's  there  yet ! — our  army's  there 
yet ! — our  cause  is  there  yet ! — and  liberty's  there  yet !  "  The 
officers  set  a  chivalric  example  to  the  troops,  and  suffered  heav 
ily.  Hampton  was  shot  while  bravely  leading  on  his  men.  Bee 
fell  mortally  wounded  at  the  head  of  the  Alabamians  and  Geor 
gians,  near  the  Henry  house,  grasping  the  sword  presented  tt 
him  by  South  Carolina,  and  urging  on  his  men  to  the  last.  Col 
onel  Fisher,  of  North  Carolina,  was  killed ;  Colonels  Gartrell 
and  Falkner  wounded ;  and  General  Bartow,  who  had  said,  "  I 
shall  go  into  that  fight  with  a  determination  never  to  leave  the 
field  alive,  but  in  victory,"  was  shot  through  the  heart  while 
rallying  the  7th  Georgia,  and  fell,  exclaiming  to  the  men  around 
him,  "  They've  killed  me,  but  never  give  up  the  field  !  " 

In  the  midst  of  this  hot  struggle  Jackson's  equanimity  re- 
mained unshaken.  He  does  not  seem,  during  any  portion  of  the 
battle,  to  have  contemplated  disaster  or  defeat,  and  opposed  to 
the  agitation  and  flurry  of  many  around  him  a  demeanor  en- 
tirely unmoved.  When  an  officer  rode  up  to  him,  and  exclaimed 
with  great  excitement,  "  General,  I  think  the  day  is  going  against 
us ! "  Jackson  replied,  with  entire  coolness  in  his  brief,  curt 
one,  "  If  you  think  so,  sir,  you  had  better  not  say  any  thing 
about  it." 

His  bayonet  charge  had  pierced  the  Federal  centre,,  sepa- 


74  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

rating  the  two  wings  ;  but  such  was  their  preponderance  of  num- 
bers that  this  advantage  not  only  became  of  doubtful  value,  but 
the  Confederate  line  was  in  danger  of  being  enveloped  by  the 
heavy  masses  closing  in  upon  its  flanks.  Jackson  put  forth  all 
his  strength  to  retain  his  vantage  ground  ;  and  the  enemy  made 
corresponding  exertions  to  drive  him  from  the  plateau.  At  this 
stage  the  struggle  reached  its  utmost  intensity.  In  portions  of 
the  field,  especially  near  the  Henry  house,  the  opposing  lines 
fought  almost  breast  to  breast ;  and  though  repeatedly  repulsed, 
the  Federal  infantry  constantly  returned  with  new  vigor  to  the 
charge.  Still  the  Confederate  front  remained  unbroken.  Led 
by  determined  officers,  who  kept  their  ranks  closed  up,  and 
cheered  them  byword  and  example,  the  troops  continued  to 
hold  their  ground  upon  the  plateau — especially  the  first  brigade, 
which  occupied  the  dangerous  and  important  position  in  the 
centre.  The  Federal  line  had  first  been  broken  by  this  brigade, 
and  now  was  destined  to  receive  from  it  the  coup  de  grace. 

Jackson  had  held  his  position  for  about  an  hour ;  and  this 
had  enabled  General  Beauregard  to  hurry  forward  troops  from 
the  lines  along  Bull  Run.  These  were  at  last  in  position,  and, 
taking  command  of  them  in  person,  General  Beauregard,  about 
three  o'clock,  ordered  the  whole  line  to  advance  and  make  a  de- 
cisive assault.*  Jackson  still  held  the  centre,  and,  although 
wounded  in  the  hand  by  a  fragment  of  shell,  paid  no  attention 
to  the  accident.  At  the  word,  his  brigade  rushed  forward,  broke 
through  the  Federal  line  in  front  of  them,  and,  supported  by  the 
reserves,  drove  the  enemy  from  the  plateau,  across  the  Warren- 
ton  road,  into  the  fields  of  the  Dogan  farm. 

The  decisive  success  had  been  mainly  achieved  by  Jackson's 
command,  and  he  proudly  wrote  to  a  friend  soon  afterwards : 
"  You  will  find,  when  my  report  shall  be  published,  that  the  First 

*  The  writer  is  unable  to  state  the  number  of  Confederate  troops  in  this 
final  charge.  He  is  able,  however,  to  vouch  for  the  statement  that  the  bulk 
of  General  Beauregard's  forces  under  Longstreet,  Bonhum,  and  Ewell  were 
still  retained  at  the  lower  fords  to  guard  that  front.  The  brunt  of  the  battle 
thus  continued  to  be  borne  by  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah. 


HAJSTASSAS.  Y5 

Brigade  was  to  our  army  what  the  Imperial  Guard  was  to  the 
first  Napoleon  ;  that,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  it  met  the  thus 
far  victorious  enemy,  and  turned  the  fortunes  of  the  day."  From 
a  man  so  modest,  and  so  much  opposed  to  all  vain-gloriousness 
and  boasting,  this  statement  stands  for  a  great  deal.  It  would 
never  have  been  made  had  the  praise  been  undeserved. 

The  battle,  however,  was  not  over.  The  Federal  lines  had 
been  driven  from  the  Henry  house  plateau,  but  their  numbers 
rendered  them  still  formidable,  and  prompt  steps  were  taken  to 
follow  up  this  important  blow.  While  marshalling  his  troops 
for  a  final  attack,  General  Johnston,  who  had  commanded  the 
whole  field  from  his  headquarters  at  the  Lewis  house,  received 
intelligence  that  "  a  Federal  army"  had  reached  Manassas,  and 
was  then  advancing  upon  his  rear.  This  force  was  soon  ascer- 
tained, however,  to  be  that  of  General  Kirby  Smith  of  the  Army 
of  the  Shenandoah,  who  had  just  arrived  with  1,700  fresh  in- 
fantry. They  had  come  over  the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad,  and, 
hearing  the  heavy  firing,  General  Smith  had  stopped  the  train 
before  it  reached  the  Junction,  disembarked  the  troops,  and  has- 
tened forward  to  the  battle  field.  Coming  rapidly  into  position 
near  the  Chinn  house,  on  the  Confederate  left,  h^  opened  fire 
with  Beckham's  battery  on  the  enemy  at  the  moment  when  they 
were  commencing  a  final  attack.  Their  line  extended  in  the 
shape  of  a  crescent  from  the  Carter  house,  around  in  rear  of 
Dogan's,  and  across  the  Warrenton  road  to  Chinn's  house.  The 
fields  and  roads  were  filled  with  infantry,  and  their  two  brigades 
of  cavalry  which  had  not  been  used.  General  Smith  had 
scarcely  formed  his  line,  when  the  Federal  commander,  throwing 
forward  a  cloud  of  skirmishers,  extended  his  right  wing  to  out- 
flank and  envelope  the  Confederate  line.  They  were  met  by  the 
fresh  troops  under  Smith  and  Early  with  great  spirit,  and  this 
unexpected  resistance,  at  a  point  supposed  to  be  undefended,  ob- 
viously disheartened  the  attacking  column.  At  the  same  mo- 
ment the  whole  Southern  line  advanced  to  the  charge,  and  the 
combined  attack  upon  the  Federal  flank  and  front  was  decisive. 
The  enemy  was  forced  over  the  narrow  plateau  near  Chinn's. 


76  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

house,  out  of  the  woods  on  its  western  slope,  across  the  War- 
renton  road,  and  on  toward  Sudley  and  Red  House  fords. 
Their  lines  were  broken,  and  the  army  in  full  retreat.  Soon  this 
retreat  became  a  Avild  and  panic-stricken  flight.  The  roads  were 
filled  with  artillery,  the  horses  at  full  gallop  ;  men  were  crushed 
beneath  the  wheels  ;  wagons  were  overturned  amid  the  hurrying 
crowd,  and  every  article  which  could  impede  the  retreat  was 
dropped  by  the  men  in  their  headlong  flight. 

The  rout  was  so  complete,  that  Jackson  said,  in  his  curt  voice, 
as  he  sat  his  horse  and  looked  at  the  retreating  army :  "  Give 
me  ten  thousand  men,  and  I  will  be  in  Washington  to-night ! "  * 

*  The  writer  has  received  valuable  information  in  regard  to  this  battle 
from  General  Stuart,  General  Hampton,  General  Pendleton,  and  others. 
Jackson's  report  of  the  operations  of  his  brigade  is  lost,  and  the  general 
official  report  is  very  confused  and  inaccurate.  It  is  there  stated  that  Jackson 
was  repulsed  and  driven  from  the  plateau  at  two  o'clock.  This  is  unquestion* 
ably  an  error.  He  states,  in  his  letter  to  Colonel  Bennett,  that  he  pierced  the 
Federal  centre  and  held  the  ground  thus  won ;  and  General  Pendleton,  who 
was  present,  writes  that  in  this  charge  the  enemy  were  "  thoroughly  broken 
and  thrown  back,  nor  did  they  at  all  again  recover  that  ridge."  General 
Hampton's  statement  to  the  writer  is  distinctly  to  the  same  effect.  The  un- 
reliable character  of  the  general  official  report  was  a  matter  of  notoriety  in 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  ;  but  no  intelligent  person  regarded  the  emi- 
nent soldier  whose  name  is  signed  to  it  as  responsible  for  its  inflation  of  style 
or  inaccuracy  of  statement. 


PART  II. 

THE    CAMPAIGN    OF   THE    VALLEY. 
CHAPTER  I. 

THE    AUTUMN    OF   1861. 

THE  first  days  succeeding  the  battle  of  Manassas  were 
passed  by  the  Southern  troops  in  discussing  the  incidents  of 
the  engagement.  Among  other  things,  they  recalled  General 
Bee's  expression  while  rallying  his  broken  lines :  "  There  is 
Jackson,  standing  like  a  stone  wall "  ;  and  the  name  of  "  Stone- 
wall "  from  that  time  forward  adhered  to  the  Virginian.  It  has 
now  become  his  designation  throughout  the  world. 

Jackson  always  insisted,  however,  that  his  troops,  and  not 
himself,  were  entitled  to  this  name.  He  was  not  a  little  gratified 
at  it,  and  on  his  death-bed  said :  "  The  men  who  live  through 
this  war  will  be  proud  to  say,  '  I  was  one  of  the  Stonewall 
Brigade/  to  their  children."  But  the  brigade  and  the  army 
insisted  as  pertinaciously  upon  applying  the  term  to  himself  aa 
descriptive  of  his  obstinate  resolution ;  and  they  succeeded  in 
fixing  it  upon  him.  He  was  never  generally  known  as  "  Thomas 
Jonathan" — his  real  baptismal  name.  Bee,  when  about  to  sur- 
render his  brave  soul  to  his  Maker,  had  baptized  him,  amid 
blood  and  fire,  as  "  Stonewall"  Jackson. 


78  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON 

The  part  taken  by  his  brigade  in  the  battle  has  been  de- 
scribed. They  undoubtedly  decided  the  fortunes  of  the  day,  by 
first  checking  the  rapid  advance  of  the  Federal  forces  until  the 
Confederate  line  was  formed,  and  then,  by  piercing  their  centre, 
separating  their  wings,  and  compelling  them  to  fall  back  from 
their  strong  position  upon  the  plateau  near  the  Henry  house. 
The  importance  of  these  services  was  recognized  by  the  country, 
and  Jackson  began  to  be  spoken  of  as  a  commander  of  nerve 
and  ability.  Beyond  this,  however,  his  fame  did  not  extend. 
No  one  seems  to  have  suspected  the  existence  of  those  great  re- 
sources of  strategy  and  daring  which  lay  under  the  calm  exterior 
of  the  Virginian ;  and  his  celebrity  as  a  soldier  was  still  to  be 
won  upon  more  arduous  fields. 

For  three  days  Jackson  waited  impatiently  for  the  order  to 
advance  upon  Washington.  We  have  heard  his  exclamation  on 
the  field  of  battle,  that  with  ten  thousand  men  he  could  enter  the 
Federal  capital  that  night ;  and  to  the  future,  when  all  the  facts 
shall  be  published,  we  must  leave  the  decision  of  the  question 
whether  he  erred.  What  seems  plain  is,  that  Washington  at 
that  moment  was  almost  undefended,  the  Federal  army  routed, 
and  the  way  open.  Jackson  thought  the  movement  perfectly 
practicable,  and  said  more  than  once,  with,  some  impatience,  "  I 
have  three  days'  rations  cooked,  ready  to  advance.  Why  don't 
the  order  come  !  " 

It  did  not  come — for  what  reason  it  is  difficult  at  this  time  to 
understand.  The  army  was  not  well,  but  sufficiently  provisioned  ; 
the  means  of  transportation  were  limited,  but  many  wagons  were 
not  needed ;  and  General  Patterson  had  not  moved  from  his  po- 
sition on  the  upper  Potomac.  This  was  not  certainly  known, 
however,  and  the  apprehension  was  felt  that  a  new  army  would 
await  the  Confederates  at  Arlington  Heights.  The  men  were 
not  then  inured  to  forced  marches  and  fasting,  and  the  idea  of 
promptly  advancing  was  abandoned.  To  the  eye  of  him  who 
to-day  embraces  the  whole  field,  "  looking  before  and  after,"  the 
movement  seems  to  have  been  practicable ;  but  the  future  was 
then  hidden,  the  ground  unknown,  and  the  project  of  a  forward 


THE    AUTUMN    OF   1861.  Y9 

movement  was  given  up.  General  Johnston  collected  his  army, 
much  scattered  in  the  hot  conflict,  and  sending  forward  advance 
forces  to  Fairfax  Court  House  and  Vienna,  went  into  camp  near 
Centreville . 

The  intelligence  of  the  victory  at  Manassas  was  greeted  in 
the  South  in  a  manner  which  seemed  disproportioned  to  its  im- 
portance. No  bells  were  rung,  or  crowds  harangued  by  street 
orators  ;  and  it  was  difficult  to  believe,  from  the  demeanor  of  the 
people,  that  they  realized  the  good  fortune  of  the  Southern  arms. 
Such  at  least  was  the  fact  in  Virginia,  and  the  explanation  may 
probably  be  discovered  in  the  natural  character  of  the  popu- 
lation. The  Virginians  are  not  easily  elated  by  good  fortune,  or 
depressed  by  bad  ;  and  they  exhibited  this  temper  of  mind  on  the 
present  occasion.  The  Congress  imitated  them.  Eesolutions 
of  thanks  to  the  Southern  troops  were  passed,  couched  in  terms 
of  gravity  and  decorum,  and  the  subject  then  seemed  to  be  for- 
gotten. The  effect  of  the  battle  at  the  North  was  different. 
Such  ardent  expectations  of  a  decisive  victory  over  the  South 
had  been  indulged,  that  the  result  fell  upon  the  people  with  the 
startling  effect  of  a  thunderbolt.  The  press  teemed  with  angry 
denunciations  of  the  generals  who  had  thus  suffered  themselves 
to  be  defeated  ;  a  policy  of  extermination  against  the  South  was 
hotly  advocated ;  and  the  entire  body  of  Northern  society 
seemed  to  be  convulsed,  as  it  had  never  been  before,  in  the 
recollections  of  the  living. 

Prompt  steps  were  taken  by  the  Federal  authorities  to  re- 
trieve the  disaster,  and  every  energy  was  brought  into  play. 
New  levies  were  made ;  a  heavy  loan  negotiated  with  the  banks 
of  New  York,  on  terms  which  indicated  no  change  in  the  public 
conviction  that  the  South  would  soon  be  forced  back  into  the 
Union  ;  and  Lieutenant-General  Scott,  now  past  seventy,  yielded 
the  command  of  the  Federal  armies  to  a  younger  and  more  act- 
ive officer.  General  George  B.  McClellan,  the  officer  in  ques- 
tion, will  probably  rank,  in  the  ultimate  judgment  of  military 
critics,  as  the  ablest  Federal  commander  of  the  war.  This  esti- 
mate, which  is  formed  by  the  present  writer  after  a  careful  study 


80  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

of  his  official  reports,  and  a  full  consideration  of  all  the  circum- 
stances under  which  he  acted,  will  only  go  for  what  it  is  worth  ; 
but  his  great  abilities  as  a  soldier  were  unquestioned  even  by  his 
opponents.  He  was  at  this  time  about  thirty-five  years  of  age,  was 
a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and  had  been  chiefly  known  before  the 
war  as  the  author  of  a  work  upon  European  tactics,  the  result 
of  a  visit  as  military  commissioner  to  the  Crimea.  When  the 
war  broke  out  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Federal 
forces  in  Western  Virginia,  where  he  achieved  a  complete  suc- 
cess over  the  Confederate  arms  at  Rich  Mountain  and  Carrick's 
ford.  These  affairs  had  appeared  on  the  Federal  bulletins  as 
u  two  victories  in  one  day ; "  General  McClellan  received  the 
.flattering  name  of  "  the  Young  Napoleon,"  and  his  sudden  pro- 
motion to  the  command  of  all  the  United  States  forces  indicated 
the  high  opinion  which  had  been  formed  of  his  abilities.  Precise 
.and  military  in  his  bearing  when  on  duty,  but  at  other  times  easy, 
approachable,  and  ever  ready  to  smile  and  utter  a  kind  word,  he 
became  immediately  and  greatly  popular  with  the  troops.  His 
sentiments  toward  the  South  were  those  of  a  soldier  for  an  open 
and  powerful  opponent,  and  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his 
great  position  with  a  zeal  and  energy  which  soon  accomplished 
the  most  important  results.  Under  his  directing  hand  the  dis- 
organized Federal  army  again  took  shape,  reformed  its  broken 
ranks,  and  once  more  presented  a  determined  and  dangerous 
trout  to  the  South. 

The  military  operations  which  took  place  during  the  remain- 
der of  the  year  1861,  over  the  whole  field  of  struggle  from  Vir- 
ginia to  Missouri,  form  no  part  of  the  present  narrative.  The 
South  had  not  profited  by  the  result  of  the  battle  of  Manassas. 
It  is  doubtful  whether  that  victory  did  not  prove  a  misfortune  to 
the  Confederacy.  Instead  of  concentrating  all  their  energies, 
and  preparing  tor  a  hard  and  protracted  struggle,  the  Southern 
people  seemed  to  consider  the  conflict  o\er,  and  the  revolution 
victoriously  terminated  at  a  blow.  The  ignis  fatuus  of  European 
intervention  danced  before  every  eye,  leading  the  people  of  the 
Confederate  States  still  deeper  and  deeper  into  the  treacherous 


THE    AUTUMN    OF    1861.  81 

slough  :  and  during  all  this  time  the  North,  with  greater  energy 
and'  resolution  than  before,  was  gathering,  by  land  and  by  sea, 
an  overpowering  force  for  their  destruction.  Immense  iron-clad 
men-of-war  ;  great  armies  at  every  point  on  the  frontier  ;  enormous 
levies  of  additional  troops,  and  fresh  loans  ;  a  resolute  determi- 
nation to  crush  the  South  at  any  cost — these  were  the  elements 
which  the  North  now  brought,  with  persistent  activity,  to  the 
further  struggle.  Active  operations  followed  at  nearly  every 
point.  Armies  took  the  field  in  Missouri,  Kentucky,  and  Vir- 
ginia ;  and  extensive  expeditions  by  water  were  undertaken 
against  the  fortified  places  along  the  Southern  coast.  In  "West- 
ern Virginia  an  active  campaign  took  place,  resulting  in  the  in- 
decisive affairs  at  Scary  Creek,  Cross  Lanes,  Carnifax  Ferry, 
and  Cheat  Mountain,  where  Generals  Floyd  and  Wise  carried 
on  the  contest  with  varying  but  unimportant  results.  The  only 
affairs  of  importance  which  redeemed  the  campaign  in  Virginia, 
after  July,  from  its  general  aspect  of  nonsuccess,  were  the 
actions  at  Leesburg  and  Alleghany  Mountain,  in  October  and 
December.  In  the  former  Colonel  Evans  met  and  repulsed  with 
heavy  slaughter  a  Federal  force  which  crossed  the  Potomac  at 
Ball's  Bluff";  and  in  the  latter,  Colonel  Edward  Johnson,  with  a 
small  body  of  Confederates,  sustained  the  attack  of  a  much  larger 
force  of  Federal  troops  for  about  six  hours,  when  they  retired 
and  left  him  in  possession  of  the  field. 

But  these  successes  did  not  greatly  change  the  face  of  affairs, 
and  the  prospect  for  the  spring  looked  threatening.  Two  Fed- 
eral armies  were  held  ready  to  advance  at  the  opening  of  fine 
weather — that  at  Washington,  under  personal  command  of  Gen- 
eral McClellan,  and  a  second  opposite  Leesburg,  under  General 
Banks  of  Massachusetts.  In  addition  to  these,  considerable 
bodies  of  Federal  troops  occupied  the  counties  of  Hardy,  Hamp- 
shire, and  Morgan,  on  the  head-waters  of  the  Potomac,  where 
they  lived  on  the  country,  harassed  the  inhabitants,  and  treated 
as  public  enemies  all  who  refused  to  subscribe  to  the  Federal 
oath  of  allegiance. 

To  protect  this  portion  of  the  State,  and  guard  the  lower 
6 


32  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

valley  against  General  Banks,  the  Confederate  Government  do 
termined  to  send  a  force  to  Winchester.  This  could  not  be 
wholly  drawn  from  the  army  at  Centreville,  which  faced  General 
McClellan,  and  other  sources  were  looked  to.  Detached  bodies 
from  various  quarters  were  ordered  to  concentrate  at  Winches- 
ter, and  especially  the  commands  of  Generals  Loring  and  Henry 
R.  Jackson,  who  had  hitherto  operated  in  Western  Virginia. 
The  force  thus  organized  was  officially  styled  the  "  Army  of  the 
Monongahela,"  and  was  placed  under  the  command  of  General 
Stonewall  Jackson,  who  had  been  advanced  to  the  rank  of 
major-general. 

This  gratifying  promotion  seemed  to  produce  little  effect 
upon  Jackson,  or  he  was  too  modest  to  let  his  feelings  be  seen. 
On  the  night  when  he  received  his  commission,  his  friend  Col- 
onel Pendleton  slept  with  him,  and  they  talked  confidentially  for 
hours,  but  Jackson  did  not  allude  to  it.  It  was  only  on  the  next 
day,  when  they  rode  together  to  Fairfax  Court  House,  that 
Colonel  Pendleton  heard  of  it.  Jackson  was  looking  for  a 
magistrate  to  administer  the  official  oath,  and  was  thus  led  to 
mention  his  promotion. 


CHAPTER  II. 

JACKSON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS  TO  HIS  BRIGADE. 

AFTER  the  battle  of  Manassas,  Jackson  had  remained  with 
his  brigade  in  the  woods  near  Centreville,  only  moving  once, 
when  the  Confederate  generals  advanced  to  Fairfax  Court  House, 
and  then  abruptly  retired,  with  the  hope  of  drawing  General 
McClellan  from  his  earthworks  at  Arlington.  He  had  looked 
in  vain  for  the  signal  to  march  upon  Washington.  Day  followed 
day — and  then  weeks  and  months  went  by — the  signal  did  not 
come.  His  brigade  awaited  the  order  to  advance  with  an  im- 


JACKSON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS  TO  HIS  BRIGADE.       83 

patience  as  great  as  that  of  their  commander,  and  were  restive 
as  the  bright  autumn  thus  passed  on. 

They  had  began  to  regard  their  leader  with  that  admiration 
and  affection  which  subsequently  became  so  ardent.     The  Army 
of  the  Potomac  was  nothing  in  their  eyes  without  the  Army  of 
the  Shenandoah,  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah  nothing  without 
the  "  Stonewall "  brigade  ;  and  the  commander  of  that  brigade 
was,  in  the  opinion  of  his  troops,  the  first  of  men — the  "  noblest 
Roman  of  them  all."     His  coolness  in  action,  and  the  obstinate 
resolution  with  which  he  fought,  had  made  him  the  hero  of  the 
ardent   youths,  sensitively  impressible    to   military  glory,   and 
prone,  like  the  young  everywhere,  to  hero-worship.     They  were 
charmed  with  his  soldierly  qualities ;    delighted  with  his  dingy 
gray  coat  and  yellow  cap  ;  and  his  very  eccentricities  and  oddi- 
ties were  new  claims  upon  their  liking.     They  called  him  "  Old 
Jack  "  and  "  Stonewall ; "  and  when  troops  bestow  nicknames 
on   a   commander,   they   almost   always   admire    him.      They 
laughed  when  he  rode  by  upon  his  sorrel,  with  the  rim  of  his 
cap  on  his  nose  and  his  chin  in  the  air,  but  the  cheer  which  fol- 
lowed was  an  evidence  of  the  admiration  and  affection  under  the 
laughter.      Those   who  witnessed   the   meetings   between   this 
officer  and  his  troops,  at  that  time  and  afterwards,  will  recall 
the  spectacle  of  waving  hats,  and  tumult  and  rejoicing.     It  was 
in  vain  that  Jackson  endeavored  to  avoid  these  ovations,  which, 
in  spite  of  his  innate  modesty,  were  the  most  delightful  incense 
to  the  pride  of  the  soldier.     In  vain  did  he  pluck  off  his  old  cap 
— fix  his  eyes  straight  before  him — and  pass  at  a  rapid  gallop, 
with  his  staff  strung  out  behind  him,  in  the  effort  to  keep  pace 
with  him.     The  men  refused  to  be  thus  defeated.     The  signal  was 
given  at  one  end  of  the  brigade  that  "  Old  Jack  was  coming  :" 
the  men  ran  to  the  road,  and  as  he  passed  at  full  speed,  cheers 
arose  and  were  carried  along  the  line,  as  though  their  leader 
was  rallying  them  in  the  gulf  of  battle.     So  unfailing  was  this 
reception  of  Jackson  by  his  men,  and  such  an  uproar  did  his 
presence  always  occasion,  that  it  was  compared  to  the  immense 
excitement  produced  in  the  regiments  and  brigades  by  the  ap- 


34  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

pearance  of  a  hare  or  squirrel,  which  the  men  invariably  ran  down 
with  deafening  shouts  and  cries.  "When  that  distant  cheering 
was  heard,  the  army  would  exclaim  with  good-humored  laughter, 
"  That's  Jackson  or  a  rabbit ! " 

This  great  popularity  of  the  General  will  serve  to  explain 
the  depression  of  his  men  when  they  were  informed  that  their 
favorite  was  about  to  leave  them.  The  fact  seemed  incredible. 
That  any  other  general  but  the  officer  in  the  old  gray  coat,  with 
the  old  yellow  cap,  on  the  old  sorrel  horse,  should  lead  the 
Stonewall  Brigade,  appeared  an  idea  too  absurd  for  belief.  It 
seemed  an  outrage  on  them ;  a  wanton  disregard  of  their  feel 
ings  which  no  public  reasons  could  justify. 

But  in  spite  of  this  extraordinary  excitement  in  the  ranks  of 
the  brigade,  the  inexorable  order  remained  unchanged — the  sor- 
rowful moment  approached  when  they  were  to  bid  farewell  to 
their  commander. 

The  day  at  last  came  ;  it  was  the  4th  of  October.  In  a  field 
near  Centreville  all  the  regiments  of  the  brigade  except  the  5th 
Virginia,  then  on  picket,  were  drawn  up  in  close  column  with 
their  officers  in  front,  and  Jackson  appeared  before  them  as 
though  about  to  give  the  order  for  a  charge.  But  now  no  en- 
thusiasm or  cheers  awaited  him.  All  knew  for  what  purpose  he 
came,  and  the  sorrow  which  filled  every  heart  betrayed  itself  iu 
the  deep  silence  which  greeted  his  approach.  Not  a  sound  was 
heard  along  the  line  nor  hand  raised  ia  greeting  to  indicate  that 
the  men  had  recognized  their  captain.  The  faces  of  the  troops 
were  full  of  the  deepest  dejection,  and  they  resembled  children 
about  to  be  separated  from  their  father. 

As  Jackson  reached  the  centre  of  the  line  his  staff  halted, 
and  he  rode  slowly  forward  until  he  was  within  a  few  paces  of 
the  men.  As  his  glance  met  theirs,  a  slight  color  tinged  his 
cheek,  and  his  eye  flashed.  Mastering  his  emotion  with  an  effort, 
in  the  midst  of  the  profound  silence,  and  speaking  in  the  short 
abrupt  tones  which  were  so  familiar  to  them,  Jackson  addressed 
them  as  follows  : 

"  I  am  not  here  to  make  a  speech,  but  simply  to  say  farewell 


JACKSON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS  TO  HIS  BRIGADE.       85 

I  first  met  you  at  Harper's  Ferry  in  the  commencement  of  this 
war,  and  I  cannot  take  leave  of  you  without  giving  expression 
to  my  admiration  of  your  conduct  from  that  day  to  this — wheth- 
er on  the  march,  in  the  bivouac,  in  the  tented  field,  or  on  the 
bloody  plains  of  Manassas,  where  you  gained  the  well-deserved 
reputation  of  having  decided  the  fate  of  the  battle.  Throughout 
the  broad  extent  of  country  over  which  you  have  marched,  by 
your  respect  for  the  rights  and  the  property  of  citizens,  you  have 
shown  that  you  were  soldiers — not  only  to  defend,  but  able  and 
willing  both  to  defend  and  protect.  You  have  already  gained  a 
brilliant  and  deservedly  high  reputation  throughout  the  army  of 
the  whole  Confederacy,  and  I  trust  in  the  future,  by  your  deeds 
on  the  field,  and  by  the  assistance  of  the  same  kind  Providence 
who  has  heretofore  favored  our  cause,  you  will  gain  more  victo- 
ries, and  add  additional  lustre  to  the  reputation  you  now  enjoy. 
You  have  already  gained  a  proud  position  in  the  future  history  of 
this  our  Second  War  for  Independence  ;  I  shall  look  with  great 
anxiety  to  your  future  movements,  and  I  trust  whenever  I  shall 
hear  of  the  First  Brigade  on  the  field  of  battle,  it  will  be  of 
still  nobler  deeds  achieved,  and  higher  reputation  won  !  " 

As  he  uttered  these  words  Jackson  paused,  and  his  eye 
passed  slowly  along  the  line,  as  though  he  wished  thus  to  bid 
farewell,  individually,  to  every  familiar  face.  His  emotion 
seemed  profound — the  rush  of  memories  crowding  upon  him 
more  than  he  could  bear.  He  could  not  leave  them  thus,  with 
such  formal  words  only  ;  and  the  iron  lip  which  had  never  trem- 
bled in  battle  was  suddenly  seen  to  quiver.  Mastered  by  an 
uncontrollable  impulse,  the  soldier  rose  in  his  stirrups,  threw  the 
reins  on  the  neck  of  his  horse  with  an  electric  gesture  which  sent 
a  thrill  through  every  heart,  and  extending  his  arm,  added  in 
tones  of  the  deepest  feeling  : 

"  In  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah  you  were  the  First  Bri- 
gade !  In  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  you  were  the  First  Brigade  ! 
In  the  second  corps  of  the  army  you  are  the  First  Brigade  I 
You  are  the  Fir$t  Brigade  in  the  affections  of  your  General ;  and 
I  hope,  by  your  future  deeds  and  bearing,  you  will  be  handed 


86  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSCN. 

down  to  posterity  as  the  First  Brigade,  in  this  our  Second  Wai 
of  Independence.  Farewell !  " 

As  the  last  words  echoed  in  the  ears  of  the  men,  and  Jack- 
son turned  to  leave  them,  the  long  pent-up  feeling  burst  forth. 
Three  prolonged  cheers  rolled  along  the  line  of  the  brigade,  and 
no  sooner  had  they  died  away  than  they  were  renewed  and  again 
renewed.  The  calm  face  of  Jackson  flushed  as  he  listened  to 
that  sound,  but  he  did  not  speak. 

Waving  his  hand  in  token  of  farewell,  he  galloped  away,  and 
the  brigade  returned  slowly  and  sorrowfully  to  camp. 


CHAPTER    HI. 
JACKSON'S    PLAN. 

BEFORE  entering  upon  the  narrative  of  the  campaign  in  the 
valley,  it  is  necessary  that  we  should  briefly  refer  to  Jackson's 
views  in  the  fall  of  1861.  What  a  distinguished  man  conceives 
is  often  as  interesting  as  what  he  executes,  and  certainly  serves 
equally  to  display  his  character.  The  plan  of  operations  which 
we  are  about  to  notice  was  never  carried  out,  and  many  persons 
at  that  time  thought  it  absurd ;  but  it  was  the  deliberate  result 
of  Jackson's  reflections,  and  will  at  least  show  his  views  at  that 
time. 

He  proposed  that  the  Confederate  forces  should  invade  the 
North  in  two  columns,  winter  at  Harrisburg,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1862  advance  directly  upon  Philadelphia.  The  result,  he  be- 
lieved, would  be  a  treaty  of  peace,  and  the  establishment  of 
Southern  independence. 

The  logic  by  which  he  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  this 
plan  must  succeed  was  certainly  plausible.  The  battle  of  Man- 
assas  had  paralyzed  for  the  time  the  military  power  of  the 
North,  and  every  thing  in  that  country  was  ia  confusion.  On 
every  side  were  the  evidences  of  discouragement  and  dismay ; 


JACKSON'S  PLAN.  87 

the  legislature  was  the  arena  of  warring  factions,  the  executive 
embarrassed  and  disheartened,  the  old  army  disorganized,  the 
new  levies  undisciplined  ;  and  the  whole  Northern  country,  ex- 
hausted by  the  great  effort  which  had  ended  so  disastrously,  lay, 
for  the  moment,  like  a  mighty  hulk  which  had  run  on  the  break- 
ers, and  threatened  every  instant  to  go  to  pieces.  Cool  heads 
saw  that  this  prostration,  hoAvever,  was  only  temporary ;  that 
the  immense  resources  in  population  and  war  material  at  the 
North  would  soon  enable  her  to  recover  from  the  blow  she  had 
received  ;  and  it  was  to  take  advantage  of  her  present  weakness 
and  avoid  the  recoil,  that  Jackson  proposed  his  plan. 

Its  details  were  as  follows  :  While  the  people  and  the  author- 
ities were  thus  discouraged,  he  proposed  to  advance  with  the 
Army  of  the  Monongahela,  about  10,000  in  number,  into  North- 
western Virginia,  where  he  would  reclaim  that  whole  country 
from  the  Federal  sway,  and  summon  the  inhabitants  of  Southern 
sentiment  to  array  themselves  under  his  standard.  His  infor- 
mation in  regard  to  the  feeling  in  that  region — derived  from  per- 
sonal knowledge  and  the  statements  of  influential  men — was  ex- 
tensive and  reliable  ;  and  he  did  not  doubt  his  ability  to  recruit 
between  fifteen  and  twenty  thousand  men,  which  would  place  at 
his  command  at  least  25,000  troops — enough  for  his  further  de- 
signs. These  were  bold  and  simple.  While  the  enemy  were 
under  the  impression  that  his  only  object  was  to  reclaim  and  oc- 
cupy Northwestern  Virginia,  he  would  rapidly  move  his  whole 
force  across  the  Monongahela,  into  Monongalia  County,  march 
upon  Pittsburg,  seize  that  place  and  destroy  the  United  States 
arsenal  there,  and  then,  in  conjunction  with  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  which  was  to  cross  at  Leesburg  and  form  a  junction 
with  his  own  column,  advance  upon  Harrisburg  and  occupy  the 
capital  of  Pennsylvania.  From  Harrisburg  he  proposed  that 
the  united  armies  should  advance  in  the  spring  upon  Phila- 
delphia. 

Such  was  the  plan  of  operations  which  Jackson  believed 
would  terminate  the  war  before  the  summer  of  1862.  With  the 
heart  of  the  North  thus  pierced  by  the  Southern  troops,  the 


88  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

strategic  points  captured,  and  Washington  evacuated — the  Fed 
eral  authorities,  he  believed,  would  abandon  their  opposition  to 
secession  and  agree  to  an  honorable  peace. 

It  was  proposed  to  the  Confederate  authorities  at  Richmond, 
but  was  not  adopted.  Nothing  ever  came  of  it,  and  the  South 
entered  upon  a  military  policy  which  contemplated  a  long  de- 
fensive war,  in  which  the  Federal  Government  would  find  its  re- 
sources exhausted,  or  the  patience  of  the  people  worn  out. 
Whether  this  was  an  altogether  prudent  course,  let  the  subse- 
quent events  of  the  struggle  declare.  It  never  had  the  approval 
of  Jackson.  He  believed  then,  and  continued  to  believe,  as  will 
be  seen  throughout  his  career,  that  ;'  the  Scipio  Africanus  policy 
was  the  best."  Invasion  of  the  North  was  his  possessing 
thought,  and  became  the  dream  of  his  life.  He  never  ceased  to 
think  of  it,  and  the  great  successes  at  Port  Republic,  Cold  Har- 
bor, and  the  second  Manassas,  were  chiefly  important  in  his 
eyes  from  their  bearing  upon  his  favorite  policy. 

To  the  question  what  would  have  been  the  result  of  the 
adoption  of  this  plan  in  the  autumn  of  1861,  there  will  probably 
be  many  answers  ;  but  we  pass  from  what  Jackson  suggested  tc 
what  he  effected. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    WINTER   MARCH    TO   ROMNET. 

JACKSON  proceeded  to  Winchester,  and  assuming  command 
of  the  valley  district,  applied  himself  energetically  to  the  task 
of  organizing  and  drilling  the  raw  levies  from  the  surrounding 
country.  General  Loring  with  his  command  arrived  in  Decem- 
ber ;  and  Jackson  had  succeeded,  to  his  great  joy,  in  regaining 
his  old  brigade,  which  returned  to  him  and  went  into  camp  near 
the  afterwards  famous  locality  of  Kernstown,  in  the  latter  days 
of  November. 

The  troops  thus  placed  at  his  disposal  were  about  10,000  in 


THE    WINTER    MARCH    TO    ROMNEY.  89 

number.  With  this  force  he  hoped  to  afford  complete  protection 
to  the  country,  and  he  applied  himself  with  great  activity  to  the 
work  of  putting  the  troops  in  proper  order  for  the  spring  cam- 
paign. They  did  not  remain,  in  the  meanwhile,  entirely  idle. 
On  the  17th  of  December  a  portion  of  the  Stonewall  Brigade 
proceeded  to  the  Potomac,  and  driving  away  a  body  of  Federal 
troops  posted  there,  destroyed  dam  No.  5  on  the  Chesapeake  and 
Ohio  Canal.  Washington  and  Alexandria  were  largely  supplied 
with  coal  and  other  heavy  produce  from  the  interior  by  means 
of  this  canal,  and  the  inconvenience  thus  occasioned  was  proba- 
bly considerable.  Soon  afterwards  preparations  were  made  for 
a  vigorous  movement  against  the  Federal  forces  at  Romney, 
Bath,  and  other  points,  which  it  was  desirable  to  drive  beyond 
the  Potomac. 

Jackson  at  this  time  expressed  succinctly  and  forcibly  to  one 
of  his  officers,  his  opinion  in  reference  to  the  fire  delivered  by 
troops.  The  conversation  had  turned  upon  the  relative  advan- 
tage of  firing  by  file,  and  by  company  or  battalion,  and  Jacksoo 
said :  "  I  rather  think  the  fire  by  file  is  best  on  the  whole,  for  it 
gives  the  enemy  an  idea  that  the  fire  is  heavier  than  if  it  was 
by  company  or  battalion.  Sometimes,  however,  one  may  b» 
best — sometimes  the  other — according  to  circumstances.  But 
my  opinion  is  that  there  ought  not  to  be  much  firing  at  all.  My 
idea  is  that  the  best  mode  of  fighting  is  to  reserve  your  fire  till 
the  enemy  get — or  you  get  them— to  close  quarters.  Then  de- 
liver one  deadly,  deliberate  fire — and  charge  !  " 

His  preparations  were  not  complete  until  the  last  days  of 
December.  All  was  ready  at  last,  however,  and  on  the  first 
day  of  January,  1862,  he  set  out  on  the  road  to  Romney,  with 
about  9,000  men,  in  the  midst  of  many  speculations  as  to  his 
intentions.  "  Conjecture  was  rife  as  to  our  destination,"  says 
an  officer,  "  but  Jackson  kept  his  own  secrets  so  well  as  to  de- 
ceive both  the  enemy  and  ourselves."  In  spite  of  the  winter 
season  the  day  was  exceedingly  bright  and  beautiful ;  the  air' 
soft  and  balmy ;  and  Jackson  afterwards  said  to  a  gentleman 
from  Jefferson,  "  Sir,  the  dust  was  flying  in  the  roads  ! "  So> 


"90  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

mild  was  the  temperature  that  the  men  left  behind  them  their 
overcoats  and  blankets,  to  be  brought  on  in  the  wagons.  A 
short  distance  from  Winchester  Jackson  wheeled  to  the  right, 
and  now  marched  in  the  direction  of  Bath.  On  the  next  day 
the  weather  changed  and  grew  intensely  cold.  The  men  marched 
all  day,  and  at  night  the  wagons  which  had  been  unable  to  keep 
up  with  the  troops,  had  not  arrived.  The  army  in  consequence 
was  compelled  to  go  into  bivouac  without  rations  or  covering  of 
any  description — depending  upon  camp  fires  for  protection  against 
the  cold.  On  the  third  day  Jackson  continued  to  press  forward, 
in  spite  of  the  sufferings  of  the  troops,  who,  taken  from  com- 
fortable winter  quarters,  and  unaccustomed  to  hunger,  cold,  and 
fatigue,  found  it  almost  impossible  to  proceed.  Jackson  became 
restive.  Riding  along  the  column,  he  found  his  old  brigade 
halted  on  the  side  of  the  road,  and  asked  General  Garnett,  who 
had  succeeded  him  in  the  command,  the  reason  for  this  delay. 

"  I  have  halted  to  let  the  men  cook  rations,  General,"  was 
the  reply  of  Garnett. 

"  There  is  no  time  for  that,"  responded  Jackson  briefly. 

"  But  it  is  impossible  for  the  men  to  march  further  without 
them." 

"  /  never  found  any  thing  impossible  with  that  brigade  !  " 
returned  Jackson  in  his  curtest  tones,  and  he  rode  on.  His 
plans  did  not  admit  of  delay.  He  intended  to  surprise  and 
drive  the  enemy  before  him ;  and  in  comparison  with  the  success 
of  the  campaign,  which  depended  upon  the  celerity  of  his  march, 
he  rightly  estimated  the  sufferings  of  the  men  as  a  secondary 
matter.  Such  is  the  fatal  logic  of  war — the  necessity  of  mili- 
tary affairs. 

Jackson  now  drew  near  Bath,  and  suddenly  found  his  ad- 
vance guard  attacked.  The  Federal  forces  were  posted  behind 
fences  and  other  cover,  and  poured  a  sudden  fire  into  the  van- 
guard, consisting  of  a  portion  of  the  48th  Virginia,  Colonel 
Campbell.  Two  companies  of  the  21st  Virginia,  under  Colonel 
Patton,  -were  thrown  forward  to  their  support,  and  an  animated 
skirmish  ensued.  The  enemy  held  their  ground  for  about  half 


THE   WINTER    MARCH    TO    ROMNEY.  91 

an  hour,  when  reinforcements  coming  to  the  relief  of  the  acU 
vance  guard,  the  Federal  forces  were  driven  oif  with  the  loss  of 
about  twenty  prisoners.  This  engagement  took  place  within  a 
few  miles  of  Bath,  and  to  that  place  the  enemy  retired  on  their- 
main  body.  The  Southern  troops  encamped  just  outside  of  the 
town,  and  as  night  descended  a  freezing  snow-storm,  accompa- 
nied with  hail,  swept  down  from  the  mountains,  and  beat  directly 
in  their  faces.  The  wagons  had  again  failed  to  arrive — the  men 
were  without  any  thing  to  eat,  or  blankets  to  cover  them,  and 
their  situation  was  distressing.  They  were  even  without  axesr 
and  the  officers  were  compelled  to  overlook  the  destruction  of 
the  fences  for  firewood.  "  Strike  for  the  rails,  boys,"  was  the 
order  of  an  officer  of  the  advance  guard,  and  around  the  cheer-, 
ful  blaze  the  men  sank  down  in  the  snow  which  continued  to  fall, 
and  worn  out  with  fatigue  slept  profoundly. 

"  I  built  a  fire,"  says  a  young  soldier  whose  notes  of  the 
march  are  before  us,  "  and  went  to  sleep  by  it,  but  waked  up, 
about  twelve  o'clock  at  night  and  found  the  fire  out,  and  about 
three  inches  of  snow  over  me."  He  like  the  rest  had  left  his. 
blankets  in  the  wagons,  and  this  snowy  winding  sheet  covered, 
that  night,  the  whole  slumbering  army. 

On  the  next  morning  the  mountains  and  valleys  were  cov-. 
ered  with  snow,  which  still  continued  to  fall  without  cessation. 
Jackson  did  not  modify  his  plans,  however,  in  consequence  of 
this  unexpected  and  most  unfortunate  change  in  the  weather — so 
bright  and  beautiful  when  he  left  Winchester.  Bath  was  in 
front  of  him,  still  occupied  by  the  enemy ;  and  as  soon  as  the 
troops  had  snatched  a  hasty  meal,  the  order  was  given  for  an 
advance  upon  the  town.  The  Federal  forces  made  but  a  brief 
resistance.  The  Southern  artillery  was  placed  in  position  and 
opened  fire,  when  the  infantry  charged  the  enemy's  breastworks, 
and  they  fell  back  hastily  in  the  direction  of  the  Potomac.  Jack 
son  had  sent  a  force  round  in  rear  of  the  town  to  cut  off  theii 
retreat,  but  their  movements  were  too  rapid.  Before  the  troops 
could  reach  the  point  designated,  the  Federal  forces  had  passed 
it  and  effected  their  retreat.  They  were  pursued  by  Ashby'ss 


92  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

cavalry,  which  came  upon  a  considerable  force  of  infantry  in 
ambush,  and  the  cavalry  having  fallen  back,  the  Confederate 
artillery  was  brought  forward  and  fire  opened.  At  nightfall  the 
enemy  fell  back  from  their  position  and  retreated  across  the  Po- 
tomac, wading  the  freezing  stream  in  one  of  the  coldest  nights 
that  had  ever  been  known  in  that  region.  The  Federal  quar- 
ters in  the  town  of  Bath  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  troops,  and  a 
number  of  stores  were  captured.  In  their  abrupt  retreat  the 
Federal  officers  had  left  behind  them  rich  uniforms,  fine  services 
of  china,  and  all  the  luxurious  appendages  of  winter  quarters. 
These  were  taken  possession  of  by  the  troops,  who  devoured 
with  humorous  satisfaction  the  excellent  dinners  of  some  Fed- 
eral officers,  which  were  found  smoking  on  the  board. 

At  nightfall  the  artillery  fire  ceased  and  the  troops  fell  back, 
two  regiments,  however,  remaining  on  picket.  As  these  were 
forbidden  to  make  fires,  the  bitter  cold  of  the  January  night 
caused  them  intense  suffering.  The  soles  of  the  men's  shoes,  in 
many  instances,  froze  tightly  to  the  ground,  and  the  sufferings 
-of  all  were  indescribable.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  Jan- 
uary Jackson  formed  line  of  battle  opposite  Hancock,  which 
was  held  by  a  Federal  force  under  General  Lander  ;  and  bring- 
ing up  his  batteries,  placed  them  in  position  to  open  fire.  He 
then  sent  Ashby  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  demand  the  surrendei 
of  the  place.  This  was  refused  by  General  Lander,  when  Jack- 
son sent  back  word  that  he  was  about  to  shell  the  place — giving 
the  authorities  of  the  town  two  hours  to  remove  the  women  and 
children.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  opened  with  his 
batteries  on  the  town,  and  the  Federal  batteries  returned  the 
fire.  The  cannonade  continued  rapidly  for  about  an  hour  with 
out  result — Jackson  directing  his  fire  only  at  that  portion  of  the 
town  which  was  occupied  by  the  troops — and  then  it  ceased  OD 
both  sides  for  the  day. 

On  the  next  day  the  cannonade  was  resumed,  and  getting 
our  range,  the  Federal  batteries  poured  a  heavy  fire  upon  the 
troops,  with  little  injury,  however.  They  had  been  reenforced 
.during  the  night,  and  Jackson  saw  that  the  place  could  not  be 


THE    WINTER   MARCH    TO    ROMXF.V.     •  93 

taken  without  very  severe  loss  in  charging  across  the  river. 
This  fact,  and  the  additional  consideration  that  he  had  accom- 
plished the  object  of  his  march  in  that  direction,  by  driving  the 
Federal  forces  from  the  soil  of  Virginia,  induced  him  to  aban- 
don the  design — if  he  had  entertained  it — of  following  the  enemy 
into  their  own  country,  and  give  up  the  plan  of  taking  the 
town.  His  attention  was  now  turned  toward  Eomney,  where  a 
Federal  force,  variously  estimated  at  from  six  to  twelve  thou- 
sand, still  remained  ;  and  having  removed  the  stores  abandoned 
opposite  Hancock,  he  prepared  to  advance  on  the  former  place. 

While  these  events  were  taking  place  near  the  town  of  Han- 
cock, Colonel  Rust  had  been  ordered  to  proceed  with  two  regi- 
ments and  a  battery  up  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  which 
here  runs  along  the  Potomac,  and  destroy  the  railroad  bridge 
over  Capon  River.  On  the  way  to  that  point  he  fell  into  an 
ambuscade,  but  succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy  from  their  posi- 
tion ;  after  which  he  pushed  on,  burned  the  bridge,  and  destroyed 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  road.  He  then  rejoined  the  main 
body,  and  Jackson  set  out  for  Romney. 

The  weather  had  now  become  terrible,  and  the  difficulties  in 
the  way  of  military  movements  almost  insuperable.  It  has  been 
truthfully  said,  that  Napoleon's  passage  of  the  Alps  scarcely  sur- 
passed this  march.  Rain,  snow,  hail,  and  sleet  beat  upon  the 
troops,  who  were  without  tents,  overcoats,  or  blankets  ;  and  had 
it  not  been  for  the  bivouac  fires,  many  of  the  soldiers  must  have 
perished. 

The  difficulties  of  the  march  were  fourfold  for  the  trains  and 
artillery.  The  roads  were  covered  with  ice  two  inches  thick, 
and  so  thoroughly  glazed  by  the  sleet  that  horses  and  men  kept 
their  feet  only  by  the  greatest  exertion.  Men  were  slipping,  and 
their  guns  going  off  all  along  the  line.  "  Thousands  fell  flat  every 
day,"  says  an  eye-witness — and  both  men  and  animals  were  often 
seriously  hurt.  The  knees  and  muzzles  of  the  horses  were  terri- 
bly injured ;  and  they  were  seen  limping  along,  crippled  and 
streaming  with  blood ;  but  still  Jackson  continued  his  march. 
Wagon  after  wagon  slid  off  the  steep  and  slippery  roads,  and 


94  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

turned  bottom  upward,  despite  every  attempt  made  to  steady 
them.  One  train  of  wagons  and  artillery  took  from  daylight 
until  three  P.  M.  to  pass  a  hilly  point ;  heavy  details  of  men 
roughening  the  frozen  roads  with  pickaxes,  steadying  the  animals, 
and  almost  lifting  the  vehicles  along.  Jackson  was  present 
everywhere,  encouraging  the  troops  and  seeing  that  no  unneces- 
sary delay  was  permitted  by  their  officers.  His  presence  in 
fused  life  into  the  laggards,  and  silenced  the  malcontents.  Pass- 
ing a  point  of  the  road  where  a  piece  of  artillery  had  stalled, 
while  a  crowd  of  men  were  looking  idle  on,  he  stopped,  dis- 
mounted, without  uttering  a  word,  and  put  his  own  shoulder  to 
the  wheel.  The  men  were  shamed  by  the  rebuke,  and  hastened 
to  take  their  places  ;  the  horses  were  whipped  up,  and  the  piece 
moved  on. 

In  spite  of  the  extraordinary  difficulties  which  this  terrible 
condition  of  the  roads  threw  in  the  way  of  further  operations  in 
that  mountainous  region,  Jackson  did  not  swerve  from  his  fixed 
purpose  to  clear  the  whole  country  of  the  enemy.  He  hoped  to 
surprise  the  Federal  garrison  at  Romney,  but  intelligence  of  his 
advance  preceded  him.  General  Kelly,  who  commanded  the 
Federal  forces  there,  prepared  to  defend  the  town,  and  issued 
orders  to  the  troops  to  be  ready.  But  these  orders  proved,  it  is 
said,  of  no  avail.  A  panic  had  seized  upon  the  troops,  and  at 
Jackson's  approach  General  Kelly  hastily  evacuated  the  place, 
leaving  behind  him  his  official  papers,  and  public  property  to  the 
value  of  about  half  a  million  dollars,  which  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  Confederates. 

The  objects  of  the  expedition  had  thus  been  accomplished. 
Two  large  counties  had  been  cleared  of  the  Federal  troops  which 
had  so  long  harassed  them  ;  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad, 
the  great  military  artery  between  the  East  and  the  West,  had  been 
seriously  damaged,  and  the  bridge  over  Capon  River  destroyed ; 
large  amounts  of  stores  had  been  captured ;  and  the  country 
effectually  reconquered  from  the  enemy.  These  results  had  been 
achieved  by  the  persevering  resolution  of  Jackson,  and  the  en- 
durance of  the  troops  who  had  suffered  severely  from  the  bitter 


THE    WINTER   MARCH    TO    ROMNEY.  95 

cold.  But  the  result  of  their  hardships  repaid  them.  The  in- 
habitants of  the  region  could  now  sleep  in  peace.  When  Jackson 
entered  Romney  no  Federal  force  was  left  in  the  entire  country. 

It  was  necessary,  however,  to  promptly  guard  against  an 
advance  of  the  enemy  on  his  rear,  from  Williamsport  or  Har- 
per's Ferry.  Jackson  accordingly  left  General  Loring  with  a 
portion  of  the  army  at  Romney,  and  returned  with  the  remainder 
to  Winchester.  Here  he  wrote  to  a  friend  in  Richmond,  on 
January  29th,  "  Please  procure  me  thirty-five  miles  of  telegraph 
wire  from  this  point  to  Romney  " — his  intention  being  to  con- 
nect the  two  places  by  a  line  of  telegraph,  so  that  General  Lor- 
ing might  communicate  with  him  at  a  moment's  notice,  and 
announce  any  movement  of  the  Federal  forces.  Posted  at  Win- 
chester meanwhile,  with  the  main  body  of  the  army,  he  would 
be  able  to  guard  the  approaches  both  to  that  point  and  to  Gen- 
eral Loring's  rear,  and  move  either  force  as  the  operations  of  the 
enemy  dictated.  He  would  thus  be  able  to  hold  both  the  valley 
of  the  Shenandoah,  the  valley  of  the  South  Branch  of  the  Poto- 
mac, and  the  Mountains  of  Morgan.  Not  only  Jefferson,  Fred- 
erick, and  Clarke,  but  Berkeley,  Morgan,  Hardy,  and  Hampshire 
would  be  completely  protected. 

Such  was  the  design  of  Jackson  ;  but  for  reasons  now  gener- 
ally known,  it  was  not  carried  out.  From  their  first  arrival  at 
Winchester,  General  Loring,  and  a  great  number  of  his  officers 
and  men,  had  made  no  concealment  of  their  lack  of  confidence  in 
Jackson  as  a  soldier.  Truth  demands  the  statement,  that  on 
many  occasions  this  want  of  respect  was  displayed  in  a  manner 
highly  derogatory  to  military  discipline,  and  that  deference  which 
is  due  to  a  military  superior.  Jackson  was  regarded  as  a  man 
of  weak  judgment  and  deficient  intellect,  who  had  accidentally 
attained  his  position  ;  and  the  report  was  industriously  circulated 
that  he  cared  nothing  for  the  men  of  General  Loring's  command. 
With  this  the  camps  had  buzzed  at  Winchester ;  and  the  hard- 
ships of  the  winter  expedition  had  added  virulence  to  the  senti 
rnent.  When  General  Loring  was  directed  to  remain  at  Romney, 
the  dissatisfaction  of  that  commander,  and  many  of  his  officer* 


98  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

and  men,  was  excessive.  As  the  Stonewall  Brigade  marched 
back,  General  Loring's  troops  saluted  it  with  jeers,  and  cries  of, 
u  There  goes  the  Mud  Fence  Brigade !  There  go  Jackson's 
Pet  Lambs  ! " — and  this  was  succeeded  by  more  serious  evidences 
of  dissatisfaction.  A  paper  was  drawn  up  and  signed  by  Gen- 
eral Loring  and  many  of  his  officers,  reflecting  in  disparaging 
terms  upon  Jackson's  dispositions  at  Romney :  representing  that 
the  losses  of  the  expedition  had  been  enormous  ;  that  the  region 
was  untenable  ;  Romney  assailable  by  no  less*  than  twenty-three 
roads,  and  forage  and  subsistence  inaccessible.  So  strong  were 
the  representations  of  this  memorial,  which  was  forwarded  di- 
rectly to  Richmond,  that  an  order  was  sent  directly  to  General 
Loring,  for  the  withdrawal  of  his  force  from  Romney  to  Win- 
chester. In  consequence  of  this  order,  which  he  regarded  as  a 
personal  discourtesy,  and  construed  into  an  evidence  of  a  want 
of  confidence  in  his  capacity,  Jackson  resigned  his  commission 
in  the  army. 

This  unlocked  for  result  of  the  action  of  the  War  Department 
created  much  discussion  and  feeling  in  Richmond,  and  wherever 
it  was  known.  Governor  Letcher,  without  Jackson's  authority, 
withdrew  his  resignation,  but  to  this  he  would  not  consent.  In 
vain  did  one  of  his  most  confidential  friends  urge  upon  him  the 
propriety  of  reconsidering  his  determination.  Walking  up  and 
down  his  headquarters,  in  great  wrath,  Jackson  said,  in  his 
curtest  tones,  that  he  would  not  submit  to  such  treatment.  For 
himself,  he  said,  he  did  not  care.  If  he  knew  his  own  heart,  he 
had  been  actuated  by  no  sentiment  but  love  of  country  in  em- 
barking in  the  war,  and  the  War  Department  could  not  prevent 
him  from  serving  in  the  ranks,  as  he  intended  to  do.  He  was 
nobody,  but  the  authorities  at  Richmond  must  be  taught  a  lesson, 
or  the  next  victims  of  their  meddling  would  be  Johnston  and 
Lee.  He  would  not  put  up  with  a  proceeding  unmilitary  and 
discourteous  throughout,  and  would  not  hold  his  commission.* 

In  this  resolution  he  for  some  time  remained  obstinately  fixed, 

*  We  are  indebted  to  Colonel  A.  R.  Boteler  for  these  details.  Jackson's 
tngry  protest  was  addressed  to  that  officer. 


THE    WINTER    MAECH    TO    ROMNEY.  97 

but  the  representation  of  friends  gradually  had  their  effect.  His 
convictions  of  a  supposed  hostility  to  him  at  Richmond,  and 
absence  of  confidence  in  his  capacity,  were  changed ;  and  with- 
drawing his  resignation,  he  retained  the  command.  Returning 
to  his  duties,  he  wrote :  "  Though  the  troops  under  my  com- 
mand are  inadequate  to  the  defence  of  this  district,  yet  we  must 
look  on  the  bright  side,  trusting  that  a  kind  Providence  will  con- 
tinue to  give  its  protection  to  this  fair  portion  of  our  valley.  I 

regret  that should  not  regard  the  success  of  the 

recent  expedition  as  far  outweighing  the  losses  sustained." 

We  have  summed  up  briefly  the  successes — the  losses  were 
considerable.  A  large  number  of  men  were  laid  up  in  the  hos- 
pitals, and  the  army  seriously  crippled.  It  is  true  that  the  great 
majority  only  suffered  from  colds  and  slight  ailments,  but  they 
were  lost  to  the  army  for  the  time.  The  reader  will,  however, 
decide  for  himself  whether  the  expedition  was  or  was  not  worth 
what  it  cost.  The  unfortunate  results  which  followed  the  with- 
<lrawal  of  General  Loring  are  certain.  We  soon  afterwards 
find  Jackson,  ordinarily  so  mild  and  patient,  announcing  to  a 
friend  in  terms  of  great  bitterness,  that  the  enemy  were  in  pos- 
session of  Moorefield  ;  "  General  Loring,"  he  wrote  "  ought  to 
be  cashiered."  The  results  of  the  expedition  were  thus  nega- 
tived at  one  blow,  and  all  the  sufferings  of  the  troops  had  been 
for  nothing.  Moorefield,  Romney,  and  Bath  were  again  de- 
fenceless, and  the  counties  of  Hardy,  Hampshire,  and  Morgan 
once  more  at  the  mercy  of  the  enemy. 

In  the  space  of  thirty  days  a  principality  had  been  won  and 
lost  again. 


98  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

CHAPTER  V. 

JACKSON  FALLS  BACK  FROM  WINCHESTER. 

THE  spring  campaign  of  1862,  in  Virginia,  was  looked  for» 
ward  to  by  the  Federal  authorities  as  the  decisive  movement  of 
the  war — the  hinge  upon  which  the  whole  would  turn. 

Their  plans  were  not  destitute  of  ingenuity,  and  promised  to 
be  crowned  with  success.  Several  schemes  were  in  turn  re- 
solved on  and  abandoned.  General  McClellan,  we  believe,  was 
in  favor  of  advancing  up  the  Rappahannock,  and  thence  march- 
ing across  to  York  River,  within  about  thirty  miles  of  Richmond. 
President  Lincoln,  however,  preferred  the  line  of  Manassas,  and 
on  the  last  day  of  January  he  issued  the  following  special  order  : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  January  31,  1862. 
Ordered,  That  all  the  disposable  forces  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  after 
jyroviding  safely  for  the  defence  of  Washington,  be  formed  into  an  expedition 
for  the  immediate  object  of  seizing  and  occupying  a  point  upon  the  railroad 
southwestward  of  what  is  known  as  Manassas  Junction ;  all  details  to  be  in 
the  discretion  of  the  General-in-Chief,  and  the  expedition  to  move  before  or 
on  the  22d  day  of  February  next. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

This  plan  not  meeting  the  ready  concurrence  of  General 
McClellan,  the  Federal  President  wrote  him  the  following  note 
three  days  afterwards : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  February  3,  1862. 
Major-  General  Me  Clellan : 

MY  DEAR  SIR, — You  and  I  have  distinct  and  different  plans  for  a  move- 
ment of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac :  yours  to  be  down  the  Chesapeake,  up  the 
Rappahannock  to  Urbana,  and  across  land  to  the  terminus  ol  the  railroad  on 
York  River — mine,  to  move  directly  to  a  point  on  the  railroad  southwest  of 
Manassas.  If  you  will  give  me  satisfactory  answers  to  the  following  questions 
I  shall  gladly  yield  my  plan  to  yours : 

I.  Does  not  your  plan  involve  a  greatly  larger  expenditure  of  time  and 
money  than  mine  ? 


JACKSON  FALLS  BACK  FKOM  WINCHESTER.       99 

2.  Wherein  is  a  victory  more  certain  by  your  plan  than  mine  ? 

3.  Wherein  is  a  victory  more  valuable  by  your  plan  than  mine  ? 

4.  In  fact,  would  it  not  be  less  valuable  in  this,  that  it  would  break  no 
great  line  of  the  enemy's  communication,  while  mine  would  ? 

5.  In  case  of  disaster  would  not  a  safe  retreat  be  more  difficult  by  your 
plan  than  by  mine  ?  Yours  truly, 

A.  LINCOLN. 

The  reply  of  General  McClellan  to  this  note  is  not  given,  but 
his  programme  of  operations,  with  some  modifications,  was  sub- 
sequently adopted,  and  the  plan  of  the  entire  campaign  deter- 
mined on. 

Upon  the  Confederate  capital  four  armies  were  to  converge ; 
that  of  Fremont  from  the  northwest,  that  of  Banks  from  the 
valley,  that  of  McDowell  from  Fredericksburg,  and  that  of  Mc- 
Clellan from  the  peninsula,  between  the  James  and  York.  Fre- 
mont and  Banks,  having  united  their  forces,  were  to  drive  Jack- 
son before  them,  ascend  the  valley,  cut  the  Confederate  commu- 
nications, and  sweep  down  upon  the  capital  from  the  mountains. 
McClellan  was  to  march  up  the  peninsula  to  the  Chickahominy, 
and  extend  his  right  wing  far  up  that  stream  ;  and  at  the  same 
time  McDowell  was  to  advance  from  Fredericksburg  and  ex- 
tend his  left  wing  until  it  formed  a  junction  with  McClellan's 
right.  By  this  time  Jackson,  it  was  supposed,  would  be  defeated 
and  swept  away,  and  Fremont  and  Banks  would  unite  with  the 
right  wing  of  McDowell.  The  line  would  thus  form  an  im- 
mense semicircle,  from  the  shores  of  the  James  to  the  base  of 
the  Blue  Ridge,  and  Richmond  would  be  enveloped  on  the  east 
and  the  north  with  a  cordon  of  fire.  Before  the  column  ascend- 
ing the  peninsula,  150,000 — the  column  advancing  from  Fred- 
ericksburg, 40,000 — and  the  army  descending  from  the  moun- 
tains, 50,000 — in  all  240,000  men,  the  capital  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy  must  be  evacuated,  and  Virginia  come  under  the 
gway  of  the  Federal  authorities. 

Such  was  the  Federal  programme  for  the  spring  of  1862. 
Toward  the  end  of  February  it  was  obvious  to  General  John 
•ston  that  General  McClellan  designed  an  attack  on  his  position 


[00  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

at  Centreville,  as  soon  as  the  roads  were  firm,  and  the  weathei 
admitted  of  an  advance.  To  disappoint  this  movement  and  con- 
centrate the  Army  of  the  Potomac  with  that  under  General  Ma- 
gruder  on  the  peninsula,  for  the  defence  of  Richmond,  Johnston 
now  removed  or  destroyed  his  stores  and  baggage  at  Manassas, 
and  early  in  March  fell  back  toward  the  Rappahannock.  Mc- 
Clellan  pursued  him  as  far  as  Manassas,  but  speedily  withdrew 
his  forces  to  Washington ;  and  at  this  point  in  the  coming  con- 
test we  rejoin  General  Jackson  at  Winchester. 

We  now  approach  the  "campaign  of  the  valley."  By  his 
operations  on  this  great  theatre,  in  the  spring  of  1862,  Jackson 
will  be  mainly  estimated  in  that  aftertime  which  sums  up  and 
passes  judgment  on  all  human  events  without  fear,  favor,  or  the 
prejudices  of  the  contemporary.  In  the  great  career  extending 
over  barely  two  years  of  struggle,  but  so  crowded  with  memor- 
able scenes,  the  names  of  Kernstown  and  McDowell,  Winchester 
and  Port  Republic,  will  outshine  Cold  Harbor,  Manassas, 
Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg,  and  even  Chancellorsville.  In 
these  latter  battles  Jackson  was  one  of  General  Lee's  lieutenants, 
carrying  out  the  orders  of  a  commander-in-chief  under  the  eye 
and  direction  of  that  commander.  In  the  valley  he  was  com- 
manding in  the  field,  with  general  orders  only  to  control  him. 
After  the  first  blows  struck  at  the  enemy,  it  was  plain  that  full 
confidence  could  be  placed  in  Jackson,  and  what  he  thenceforth 
accomplished  was  due  to  his  own  brain  and  nerve.  The  result 
was  the  greatest  of  his  campaigns ;  and  the  military  student 
will  delight  to  dwell  upon  the  tqiling,  marching,  thinking,  and 
fighting  of  those  three  months  in  the  valley.  Tradition  will 
cluster  around  the  least  detail,  the  soldier  will  be  inseparably 
connected  with  the  beautiful  region  which  he  loved  so  well,  and 
old  men  will  tell  their  grandchildren  with  pride  that  they 
"  fought  under  Jackson  in  the  valley." 

His  scheme  of  invading  the  North  had  been  long  since  aban- 
doned, and  he  now  bent  all  his  energies  to  the  hard  task  of  hold- 
ing the  valley  against  the  heavy  forces  of  the  enemy  about  to 
advance  upon  him.  He  could  expect  no  reinforcements  from 


JACKSON  FALLS  BACK  FROM  WINCHESTER.      101 

General  Johnston's  army,  which,  reduced  in  numbers  and  ein- 
banassed  like  his  own  by  the  process  of  reorganization,  was 
barely  strong  enough  to  present  a  bold  front  to  the  large  force 
under  McClellan  ;  and  so  deeply  did  the  people  at  large  sympa- 
thize with  the  exposed  situation  of  the  little  army,  that  it  was 
earnestly  hoped  and  confidently  expected,  that  the  government 
would  order  Jackson  to  fall  back,  and  give  up  the  idea  of  hold- 
ing his  advanced  position.  Such  was  by  no  means  the  desire 
of  Jackson  ;  and  he  had  resolved  that  nothing  but  the  direct  as- 
sault of  an  irresistible  force  should  drive  him  from  the  soil  he 
had  undertaken  to  protect. 

The  days  hurried  on,  the  snows  of  January  were  succeeded 
by  the  cold  rains  of  February ;  and  as  March  approached  the 
brisk  winds  began  to  dry  the  roads.  On  the  26th  of  February 
the  Federal  forces  began  to  move.  On  that  day,  Major-General 
Banks  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Harper's  Ferry  with  a  force 
said  to  number  20,000  men,  afterwards  swollen  by  reenforce- 
rnents  to  35,000  ;  and  on  the  same  evening  the  Federal  cavalry, 
before  which  Col.  Ashby  with  his  small  force  was  compelled  to 
retire,  occupied  Charlestown.  General  Lander  was  moving 
from  above  with  about  11,000  troops,  and  these  two  columns, 
numbering  in  all  about  46,000  men,  were  now  posted  in  Jack- 
son's front.  It  is  doubtful  if  he  had  at  disposal  to  meet  them  as 
many  as  4,000  men  ;  but  these  were  excellent  troops,  and,  to  use 
his  own  words,  he  "  did  not  feel  discouraged."  Reinforcements 
were  expected  from  the  upper  valley,  and,  until  these  arrived,  he 
determined  to  take  no  step  backward,  unless  compelled  to  do  so 
by  numbers  which  he  could  not  resist.  He  had  realized  the 
long  train  of  "  woes  unnumbered "  which  would  attend  the 
occupation  of  the  valley  by  the  Federal  forces.  It  gave  them 
a  foothold  which  not  only  exposed  the  whole  country  north  of 
the  Rapidan,  but  directly  threatened  the  communications  of 
Richmond  All  his  energies  were  accordingly  bent  to  the 
almost  hopeless  task  of  repulsing  them,  and  retaining  possession 
of  the  country.  "  If  this  valley  is  lost,  Virginia  is  lost"  he  wrote 
to  a  friend  on  the  3d  of  March,  and  this  extreme  statement 


L02  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

will  serve  to  show  his  feeling.  Indeed,  the  affection  which 
Jackson,  never  an  imaginative  or  fanciful  person,  had  for  the 
Valley  of  Virginia,  was  almost  romantic.  He  always  spoke  of 
it  as  "  our  valley  "  to  his  soldiers  ;  and  his  blows  were  never  so 
sudden  and  dangerous  as  when  he  was  compelled  to  leave  Win- 
chester and  retreat.  Even  the  Federal  troops  discovered  this 
love  of  Jackson  for  the  region,  and  are  said  to  have  regarded  it 
as  "  his  property,"  which  he  would  surely  come  back  and  wrest 
from  them.  Thus  the  feelings  of  the  individual  came  to  add 
vigor,  if  it  had  been  needed,  to  the  resolution  of  the  soldier ; 
and  Jackson  prepared  to  defend  every  foot  of  the  country.  u  It 
is  but  natural,''  he  wrote  afterwards,  "  that  I  should  feel  a  deep 
and  abiding  interest  in  the  people  of  the  valley,  where  are  the 
homes  of  so  many  of  my  brave  soldiers,  who  have  been  with 
me  so  long,  and  whose  self-sacrificing  patriotism  has  been  so 
thoroughly  tested."  This  affection  was  more  than  returned  by 
the  inhabitants.  They  speak  now  of  Jackson  as  of  one  who 
belongs  entirely  to  themselves  ;  and  one  of  the  young  ladies  of 
the  region  wrote  the  other  day,  "He  is  siich  an  idol  with  me, 
that  I  devour  every  line  about  him."  He  did  much  to  conciliate 
this  admiration  and  affection.  His  whole  heart  seemed  to  be 
set  on  defending  to  the  bitter  end  the  whole  extent  of  the 
valley,  and  some  of  the  hardest  fighting  of  the  war  took  place 
in  the  rough  struggle  for  its  possession. 

Of  Jackson's  situation  at  the  time  which  we  have  now 
reached — the  first  days  of  March,  1862 — the  following  extract 
from  a  letter  written  by  him  to  a  friend  on  the  third  will  convey 
an  accurate  idea : 

"  My  plan,"  he  writes,  "  is  to  put  on  as  bold  a  front  as  possi- 
ble, and  to  use  every  means  in  my  power  to  prevent  his  advance 
whilst  our  reorganization  is  going  on.  What  I  desire  is  to  hold 
the  country,  as  far  as  practicable,  until  we  are  in  a  condition  tc 
advance ;  and  then  with  God's  blessing  let  us  make  thorough 
work  of  it.  .  .  Banks,  who  commands  about  35,000  men, 
has  his  headquarters  'at  Charlestown  ;  Kelly,  who  has  succeeded 
Lander,  has  probably  11,000,  with  his  headquarters  at  Paw  Paw, 


JACKSON  FALLS  BACK  FKOM  WINCHESTER.      103 

Thus  you  see  two  generals,  whose  united  force  is  near  46,000 
troops  already  organized  for  three  years  or  the  war,  opposed  to 
our  little  force  here.  But  I  do  not  feel  discouraged.  Let  me 
have  what  force  you  can.  .  .  I  am  delighted  to  hear  you  say 
that  Virginia  is  resolved  to  concentrate  all  her  resources,  if 
necessary,  to  the  defence  of  herself.  Now  we  may  look  for  war 
in  earnest.  .  .  I  have  only  to  say  this — that  if  this  valley  ia 
lost  Virginia  is  lost." 

His  design,  it  will  be  seen,  was  to  check  the  Federal  advance 
whilst  his  "  reorganization  was  going  on."  Those  brief  words 
touched  on  a  dangerous  and  difficult  subject.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Confederate  forces  had  volunteered  for  twelve  mouths  only, 
with  the  expectation  that  the  war  would  terminate  before  the 
expiration  of  that  period.  This  hope  was  disappointed,  a  year 
had  passed  away  and  hostilities  were  about  to  recommence  with 
new  vigor.  The  Confederacy  was  threatened  with  an  attack 
still  more  dangerous,  at  the  momemt  when  her  soldiers  claimed 
the  letter  of  the  contract — the  right  to  disband — leaving  the 
country  defenceless.  To  prevent  this  disastrous  result,  Congress 
retained  the  troops  in  the  field,  passing  several  acts,  however, 
permitting  the  men  to  change  their  arm  of  the  service,  to  elect 
new  officers,  and  reorganize  throughout  the  army. .  It  was  this 
"  reorganization  "  in  the  face  of  the  enemy — throwing  all  into 
confusion  and  rendering  the  camps  so  many  scenes  of  election- 
eering for  commissions — that  Jackson  was  fearful  of  at  the  be- 
ginning of  March.  While  the  "  Carnival  of  Misrule "  was 
reigning  throughout  his  army,  and  every  cabin  of  logs  and  mud 
in  the  winter  quarters  around  Winchester,  was  the  scene  of 
merrymaking  over  sly  canteens  of  whiskey,  smuggled  in  by  the 
candidate  who  was  anxious  to  serve  his  country  with  braid  on 
Ms  sleeves,  while  the  men  felt  their  power  to  dethrone  their 
present  officers,  and  those  officers  unconsciously  relaxed  in  dis- 
cipline on  that  account — in  the  midst  of  all  this  confusion  the 
enemy  might  at  any  moment  advance.  To  prevent  this  advance 
by  assuming  a  bold  front,  and  waiting  patiently  for  the  reorgani- 
zation to  be  completed,  was  the  object  of  Jackson  in  the  first 
flays  of  March. 


104  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

The  roads  rapidly  dried,  and  were  now  firm  to  the  tread 
and  hard  enough  to  bear  the  heaviest  artillery ;  but  the  ree'n- 
forcements  expected  by  Jackson  did  not  arrive.  With  his  army, 
reduced  by  sickness,  and  leaves  of  absence — and  before  the  new 
organization  was  accomplished — he  was  called  upon  to  meet 
the  enemy.  They  numbered,  according  to  Jackson's  estimate, 
about  46,000,  while  his  own  force  was  in  all  about  4,000  ;  but 
among  these  were  the  men  of  the  Stonewall  Brigade,  and  many 
gallant  regiments  formerly  commanded  by  General  Loring. 
With  this  little  force  he  determined  to  make  as.  obstinate  a  re- 
sistance as  possible. 

The  collision  soon  came.  On  the  day  that  the  above  letter 
was  written  by  Jackson,  the  3d  of  March,  General  Banks  left 
a  portion  of  his  army  at  Charlestown,  and  marched  with  his 
main  body  to  Martinsburg,  from  which  an  excellent  turnpike 
road  led  to  Winchester. 

Colonel  Ashby,  whose  cavalry  remained  in  front  watching 
the  enemy,  reported  these  movements  to  General  Jackson,  and 
preparations  were  made  to  receive  their  attack.  The  Confeder- 
ate commander  had  no  thought  of  retiring  without  a  fight,  and 
his  small  force  was  soon  ready  to  meet  the  Federal  attack,  which 
speedily  followed.  On  the  10th  of  March  General  Banks 
moved  toward  his  adversary,  and  on  the  llth  the  columns  from 
Martinsburg  and  Charlestown  were  united  at  a  point  about  sis 
miles  from  Winchester.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
Ashby's  cavalry  picket,  about  four  miles  from  the  town,  was 
attacked  in  force  and  the  cavalry  compelled  to  fall  back.  Ree'n- 
forcements  were  speedily  despatched  to  the  scene  of  action,  "but 
these  were  also  obliged  to  retire ;  and  Jackson  promptly  threw 
forward  his  whole  force  and  offered  battle. 

This  determined  front,  as  afterwards  at  Kernstown,  must 
have  persuaded  the  Federal  general  that  his  adversary's  force 
was  larger  than  it  had  been  represented.  He  did  not  accept 
the  proffered  battle,  and  made  no  further  advance  at  the  time, 
waiting  for  his  main  body  to  arrive. 

Jackson  still  occupied  his  position  in  advance  of  the  town 


JACKSON  FALLS  BACK  FROM  WINCHESTER.      105 

with  the  determination  not  to  retire  before  the  enemy  without 
engaging  them,  when  late  in  the  afternoon  he  received  an  order 
from  Richmond  directing  him  to  evacuate  Winchester,  and  fall 
back  up  the  valley.  This  was  a  bitter  disappointment  to  him. 
All  his  dreams  of  defending  Winchester  were  at  once  dispelled ; 
and  with  a  heavy  heart  he  prepared  to  obey.  There  was  nothing 
in  his  orders,  however,  which  forbade  him  to  fight  as  he  fell 
back,  and  he  resolved  that  before  retiring  he  would  attack  his 
adversary.  An  incident  related  of  him  on  this  occasion  conveys 
an  accurate  idea  of  his  feelings  and  intentions. 

On  the  night  of  the  llth  of  March  he  visited  the  family  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Graham,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman  of  the  town, 
with  whom  he  was  intimate,  and  the  whole  family  were  struck 
with  the  unusual  buoyancy  of  his  bearing.  His  manner  was 
animated ;  his  countenance  smiling,  almost  gay ;  and  he  came 
in  with  a  rapid  and  elastic  tread  which  indicated  high  spirits. 
As  the  hour  for  evening  prayers  had  arrived,  he  asked  permis- 
sion to  read  a  chapter  in  the  Bible  and  offer  a  prayer,  as  he  fre- 
quently did ;  and  every  one  took  notice  of  the  eloquence  and 
feeling  in  his  voice.  When  the  family  rose  from  their  knees, 
Jackson  remained  for  a  moment  silent,  and  then  said :  "  My 
good  friends,  I  can  tell  you  what  I  am  going  to  do  to-night.  I 
shall  attack  the  enemy,  and  defeat  him." 

After  a  few  more  words  he  left  the  house,  but,  to  their  great 
surprise,  returned  toward  midnight,  looking  haggard  and  dis- 
pirited. He  came  in  slowly,  almost  dragging  himself  along, 
and  said,  in  accents  of  the  greatest  depression :  "  I  have  come 
to  tell  you  that  I  must  leave  you,  and  to  say  farewell."  His 
head  sank  as  he  spoke,  and  he  seemed  to  fall  into  a  gloomy 
reverie.  From  this  he  suddenly  roused  himself,  and  starting  to. 
his  feet  with  flushed  cheeks  and  flashing  eyes,  he  half  drew  his. 
sword  from  the  scabbard  and  exclaimed : 

"  I  will  never  leave  Winchester  without  a  fight ! — never, 
never ! " 

He  stood  looking  at  the  astonished  auditors  for  some  mo- 
ments without  uttering  another  word,  and  then  his  excitement  dis> 


106  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

appeared.  His  sword  was  driven  back  with  a  ringing  clash  into 
the  scabbard,  and  in  tones  of  profound  discouragement  he  said : 

;'  No  !  I  cannot  sacrifice  my  men.  I  intended  to  attack  the 
enemy  on  the  Martinsburg  road,  but  they  are  approaching  on 
the  flanks  too,  and  would  surround  me.  I  cannot  sacrifice  my 
men  ;  I  must  fall  back." 

He  then  bade  his  friends  farewell,  and  left  the  house.*  On 
the  same  night  he  recalled  his  troops  from  their  position  in  front 
of  the  enemy,  left  the  cavalry  to  guard  his  rear,  and  silently 
evacuated  Winchester. 

He  had  remained  in  person  until  the  last  moment,  to  see  that 
no  stores  of  any  description  were  left.  Even  the  useless  tele- 
graph wire  was  directed  to  be  brought  off,  and  he  entrusted  this 
duty  to  Major  Harman,  the  chief  quartermaster,  with  the  state- 
ment that  he  was  "  in  no  hurry  to  leave  Winchester."  Every 
thing  in  the  shape  of  public  stores  had  been  already  removed. 
The  cars  and  engines  from  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
had  all  been  sent  to  the  rear,  and  the  men  had  been  greeted  with 
the  unique  spectacle  of  one  huge  railroad  engine  rolling  along 
the  valley  turnpike,  drawn  by  forty-two  horses.  Nothing  was 
thus  left,  and  Jackson  doggedly  retired. 

On  the  next  morning  a  column  of  eight  thousand  Federal 
troops  entered  the  town  and  took  possession.  Colonel  Ashby, 
commanding  the  cavalry,  which  composed  the  rear-guard  of  the 
army,  remained  behind  his  men,  alone,  in  Winchester,  until  the 
enemy  had  swarmed  into  the  ancient  town,  and  were  within  two 
hundred  yards  of  his  position. 

An  incident  very  characteristic  of  Ashby  followed.  The 
enemy  had  observed  the  daring  cavalier,  who  thus  persistently 
sat  his  horse,  watching  their  entrance,  and  two  men  were  sent 
to  make  a  circuit,  and  by  striking  the  valley  turnpike  in  his  rear, 
intercept  him  and  cut  off  his  retreat.  If  Ashby  saw  this  he  did 
not  pay  any  attention  to  the  circumstance.  He  waited  until  the 

*  The  scene  here  related  is  given  on  the  authority  of  a  highly  respectable 
gentleman  of  Winchester,  who  received  the  incident  from  the  family  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Graham,  who  witnessed  it,  and  bear  testimony  to  its  truth. 


KERNSTOWN.  10? 

Federal  column  was  nearly  upon  him,  and  then  waving  his 
sword  around  his  head,  uttered  a  cheer  and  galloped  off.  Al 
the  edge  of  the  town  he  found  himself  confronted  by  the  men 
sent  to  intercept  him ;  and  those  acquainted  with  the  daring 
character  of  Ashby  will  easily  believe  that  this  opportunity  of 
venting  his  spleen  at  being  compelled  to  retreat  was  not  unac- 
ceptable. Without  attending  to  the  loud  "  halt ! "  he  levelled 
his  pistol  as  he  came  on,  and  fired  at  one  of  the  cavalry  men,, 
who  fell.  Ashby  then  caught  the  other  by  the  throat,  dragged 
him  from  the  saddle,  and  carried  him  off  at  full  gallop.  This 
incident  took  place  exactly  as  here  narrated.  It  can  only  be 
explained  by  the  statement  that  Ashby  was  the  best  rider  in  the 
Southern  army. 

Jackson  continued  to  fall  back,  and  Ashby's  cavalry,  sup- 
ported by  Chew's  battery  of  horse  artillery,  held  the  rear,  dis- 
puting every  inch  of  ground  with  the  enemy,  who  pursued 
closely.  The  crack  of  the  cavalry  carbines  is  described  as 
having  been  incessant,  and  the  roar  of  the  artillery  was  "  the 
lullaby  and  reveille  "  of  the  little  army. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

KERNSTOWN. 

JACKSON'S  retreat  on  this  occasion  was  sullen  and  deliberate, 
and  the  forces  assailing  his  rear  gained  no  advantage  over  Col- 
onel Ashby,  who  confronted  them  with  his  cavalry  everywhere, 
and  obstinately  sustained  their  attack.  At  Newtown  he  met 
and  repulsed  a  column  under  General  Shields  which  made  a 
furious  assault  upon  the  Confederate  rear-guard,  and  the  army 
continued  its  march.  Reaching  Cedar  Creek,  near  Strasburg,  on 
the  evening  of  the  first  day,  Jackson  continued  to  retreat  until 
he  arrived  at  the  little  town  of  Mount  Jackson,  nearly  opposite 
Luray,  and  about  forty- five  miles  from  Winchester.  Here  Ins, 
weary  troops  went  into  camp,  the  enemy  having  ceased  the  pursuit 


108  LIFE   OF    STOXEWALL   JACKSOX. 

The  Federal  forces  were  now  in  possession  of  the  entire 
region  around  Winchester,  and  sound  policy  would  have  seemed 
to  suggest  a  system  of  conciliation  toward  the  inhabitants,  with 
a  view  to  changing  their  sentiments  of  hostility,  and  reconciling 
them  to  the  Federal  Government.  This  would  have  been  diffi- 
cult, perhaps,  but  not  impossible  ;  for  in  large  portions  of  Fred- 
erick and  Jefferson  Counties,  the  opposition  to  secession  had 
been  violent  and  determined — the  attachment  to  the  Union  great. 
A  policy  of  kindness  and  conciliation  toward  the  inhabitants 
would  have  increased  this  feeling ;  and  a  majority  of  tlie  people 
might  have  been  won  to  neutrality  at  least.  Geneial  Banks 
seems  not  to  have  understood  the  character  of  the  people,  and 
his  hostile  treatment  of  them  made  them  bitter  enemies.  His 
policy  united  the  jarring  elements,  and  confirmed  the  wavering 
in  their  Southern  sympathies.  Portions  of  this  region  had  been 
considered  somewhat  lukewarm  in  Confederate  sentiment  up  to 
that  time,  but  General  Banks  succeeded  in  making  the  whole 
strongly  Southern.  In  1863  a  member  of  Congress  from  one  of 
the  Gulf  States  declared  that  he  regarded  it  as  "  the  soundest 
district  in  the  Confederacy." 

General  Banks  seemed  at  first  to  intend  a  hot  pursuit  of 
Jackson,  but  this  design  was  not  executed.  He  massed  his  troops 
at  "Winchester,  and,  at  the  same  time,  a  considerable  force  was 
sent  across  the  Blue  Ridge  toward  Fredericksburg.  General 
Banks  now  regarding  Jackson  as  for  the  time  beyond  his  reach, 
and  believing  that  the  Confederate  commanders  had  neither  the 
ability  nor  the  desire  to  return  and  attack  him,  turned  over  the 
command  to  his  subordinate,  General  Shields,  and  repaired  to 
the  city  of  Washington. 

On  the  21st  of  March  Jackson  received  intelligence  froir 
Ashby,  who  had  remained  with  his  cavalry  in  front  of  the 
enemy,  that  their  troops  had  evacuated  the  town  of  Strasburg, 
and  fallen  back  in  the  direction  of  Winchester.  He  imme- 
diately resolved  to  follow  them,  and  acted  with  his  habitual 
promptness.  From  Mount  Jackson,  where  his  army  lay,  tc 
Winchester,  the  distance  was  nearly  fifty  miles,  and  to  arrive  in 


KERNSTOWN.  109 

time  to  strike  the  rear  of  the  retiring  enemy,  the  "  Foot  Cavalry," 
as  the  troops  now  began  to  be  called,  must  put  forth  their  utmost 
exertions.  No  time  was  lost.  Jackson  broke  up  his  camp, 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his  column,  and  leaving  Mount 
Jackson  at  dawn  on  the  22d,  marched  twenty-six  miles,  and  biv- 
ouacked that  night  at  Cedar  Creek,  beyond  Strasburg.  Ashby 
had  followed  the  enemy,  incessantly  skirmishing  with  their  rear- 
guard, and  on  the  evening  of  Jackson's  arrival  at  Cedar  Creek, 
had  an  animated  engagement  with  cavalry  and  artillery,  in  which 
General  Shields  was  slightly  wounded  by  a  fragment  of  shell. 
The  action  lasted  until  night,  the  enemy  continuing  to  fall  back. 

During  his  march  Jackson  received  information  from  scouts 
and  other  sources  which  induced  him  to  hurry  forward  still  more 
rapidly.  The  enemy,  he  was  informed,  were  sending  off  their 
stores  and  troops  from  Winchester ;  only  four  regiments  of  in- 
fantry were  now  in  the  town ;  and  as  he  approached  the  place 
he  was  notified  that  fifteen  thousand  troops  under  General 
Williams  were  then  moving  through  the  Blue  Ridge  at  Snick- 
er's Gap,  below  Berryville,  to  operate  against  General  Johnston. 
Jackson  saw  at  a  glance  that  if  this  intelligence  was  reliable,  au 
opportunity  now  presented  itself  to  regain  all  his  lost  ground, 
and  strike  a  heavy  blow  at  the  entire  programme  of  the  enemy. 
With  his  three  or  four  thousand  men  he  did  not  doubt  his  ability 
to  crush  the  four  regiments  at  Winchester,  and  this  sudden  and 
wholly  unexpected  attack  on  the  enemy's  rear  would  have  the 
effect  of  retaining  General  Williams  in  the  valley. 

Such  was  Jackson's  design  as  he  now  hurried  forward  by 
forced  marches  to  Winchester.  He  did  not  doubt  the  reporl 
which  had  been  brought  to  him  of  the  small  force  there.  He 
had  received  his  intelligence  "  from  a  source  remarkable  for  re 
liability,"  Colonel  Ashby,  and  it  was  not  until  he  was  actually 
engaged  with  the  enemy  that  he  found  the  Federal  force  amount- 
ed to  about  eleven  thousand  men. 

Marching  from  Cedar  Creek  at  dawn  he  continued  to  press 
forward,  and  about  noon  came  up  with  the  enemy's  rear  at  the 
little  village  of  Kernstown,  which  is  situated  on  the  valley  turn- 


HO  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

pike,  about  three  miles  from  Winchester.  Here  the  men  stacked 
arms,  and  threw  themselves  on  the  ground  to  snatch  some  rest 
after  their  incessant  movement.  The  advance  had  been  one  of 
extreme  rapidity,  the  troops  having  passed  over  a  distance  of 
more  than  forty  miles  within  a  period  of  less  than  thirty-six 
hours.  The  march  had  been  so  rapid  that  only  3,087  infantry, 
with  27  pieces  of  artillery,  had  been  able  to  keep  up  ;  and  these 
were  so  thoroughly  exhausted  that  they  could  scarcely  stand. 
An  eye-witness  declares  that  "  the  men  were  utterly  broken 
down  when  they  reached  the  battle-field,  and  so  footsore  and 
weary,  that  if  they  trod  on  a  rock  or  any  irregularity,  they 
would  stagger."  This  condition  of  the  troops  induced  Jackson  to 
resolve  on  deferring  the  attack  until  they  had  gained  a  night's  rest, 
but  he  subsequently  returned  to  his  original  intention.  His  pres- 
ence was  known,  as  the  enemy's  position  gave  them  a  fair  view 
of  his  troops ;  and  fearing  that  they  would  hurry  forward  re- 
enforcements  during  the  night,  he  resolved  to  attack  them  at 
once.  The  men  were  in  excellent  spirits  in  spite  of  their  fatigue, 
and  the  order  was  given  to  prepare  for  battle. 

It  was  now  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  declining 
sun  warned  the  Confederate  commander  that  no  time  was  to  be 
lost.  As  the  infantry  came  up  he  assigned  them  their  places  in 
the  commanding  position  which  he  had  selected  on  the  turnpike, 
and  impatiently  awaited  the  return  of  the  cavalry  scouts  which 
had  been  sent  out  to  reconnoitre.  While  he  was  thus  engaged 
forming  his  troops  in  line  of  battle,  the  roar  of  Ashby's  guns 
directly  in  front  showed  that  the  action  had  begun.  Jackson 
was  still  forming  his  line  when  the  scouts  hurried  in,  and  in- 
formed him  that  the  enemy,  who  had  been  posted  in  heavy  force 
on  the  right  of  the  turnpike,  were  then  making  a  circuit  at  a 
double-quick,  and  as  secretly  as  possible,  to  the  left. 

Their  intentions  were  thus  developed.  They  obviously  de- 
signed, under  cover  of  a  demonstration  on  the  Confederate  front, 
to  move  around  and  assail  the  left  flank — a  repetition  of  their 
strategy  at  Manassas — and  dispositions  were  promptly  made  to 
meet  this  emergency.  Ashby  was  left  with  his  cavalry  and  ar 


KERNSTOWN.  Ill 

tillery,  supported  by  Colonel  Burks'  brigade,  to  guard  the  turn* 
pike  ;  and  with  Colonel  Fulkerson's  and  General  Garnett's  bri^ 
gades  (the  latter  the  "  Stonewall"),  and  a  gun  from  Carpenter's 
battery,  Jackson  moved  to  the  left,  and  rapidly  pushed  on  to  gaiti 
an  elevated  position  which  commanded  the  enemy's  right. 
/p  The  battle  of  Kernstown  was  fought  near  the  eastern  decliv- 
ity of  the  Little  North  Mountain,  not  far  from  the  spot  where 
the  Opequan  takes  its  rise.  The  country  is  undulating,  and 
generally  open,  but  with  patches  of  oak,  birch,  and  other  trees, 
which  afford  a  good  cover  for  infantry.  The  fields  are  large, 
gently  rolling,  and  divided  by  rail  fences  or  stone  walls.  At 
the  end  of  March,  when  the  action  took  place,  a  portion  of  the 
ground  was  ploughed,  but  the  greater  part  was  covered  with  a 
thick  crop  of  broom  straw.  Where  the  battle  raged  most  hotly 
the  opposing  lines  were  almost  in  collision  with  each  other ;  the 
woods  in  which  they  were  formed  being  only  separated  by  a 
narrow  neck  of  open  field,  where  the  ground  sunk  down  in  one 
of  the  undulations  mentioned.  This  was  alternately  taken  pos- 
session of  by  both  parties.  On  the  left  of  this  position  was  a 
common  rail  fence  which  ran  perpendicular  to  the  Confederate 
line,  and  formed  a  connecting  link  between  the  adversaries.  At 
right  angles  with  this,  and  in  front  of  the  Confederate  left  wing, 
was  a  substantial  stone  wall  in  a  field  of  ploughed  ground,  which 
extended  toward  the  base  of  the  mountain. 

To  attain  the  high  ground  on  the  left  was  the  object  of  both 
adversaries.  The  struggle  thus  became,  in  its  very  commence- 
ment, an  attempt  of  each  to  outflank  his  opponent.  The  enemy 
had  gotten  the  start,  but  Jackson  moved  promptly  to  counteract 
this  advantage,  and  succeeded — through  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery 
directed  at  his  column  as  it  swept  across  the  fields — in  reaching, 
without  loss,  the  position  selected  for  his  artillery.  He  opened 
fire  immediately  with  the  gun  from  Carpenter's  battery,  and 
then  hastened  back  in  person  to  hurry  forward  the  rest  of  the 
artillery.  Every  moment  now  counted,  and  new  batteries  came 
up  quickly.  Waters'  battery,  and  McLaughlin's  "  Rockbridge 
artillery,"  one  piece  of  which  had  done  such  good  service  in  the 


112  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

hands  of  Captain  Pendleton  at  Falling  Waters,  were  placed  in 
position;  and  supported  by  the   21st  Virginia,  Colonel  Patton 
who  was  ordered  by  Jackson  to  stand  by  the  guns  to  the  last 
opened  fire  on  the  Federal  columns,  which  were  seen  rapidly 
moving  to  the  left.     Their  batteries  promptly  replied  to  the  chal  • 
lenge,  and  for  some  time  a  rapid  and  continuous  fire  was  kept 
Up_ghowers  of  case  shot  and  shell  falling  in  the  midst  of  tb<> 
troops,  but  doing  them  little  injury. 

During  this  animated  duel  between  the  opposing  batteries, 
the  infantry  of  the  two  armies  had  continued  steadily  moving  to 
the  left,  and  in  that  quarter  the  real  contest  soon  commenced, 
to  which  the  artillery  fire  had  only  been  the  prelude.  All  at 
once  a  long  roar  of  musketry  resounded  from  the  woods,  where 
the  Confederate  left  was  posted,  and  in  a  moment  the  air  was 
filled  with  the  din  of  battle.  Colonel  Echols,  of  the  27th  Vir- 
ginia, had  opened  the  action  by  an  attack  upon  the  force  imme- 
diately in  his  front,  and  this,  he  soon  ascertained,  was  very 
large.  Jackson  watched  the  contest  closely,  and  seeing  that 
Echols  was  hard  pressed  by  numbers,  ordered  the  21st  Virginia 
to  his  support.  That  regiment  advanced  and  took  position  on 
Echols'  right,  and  the  battle  began  to  rage  in  earnest.  The 
enemy  were  masked  in  the  woods,  opposite  Echols  and  Patton, 
and,  throwing  forward  line  after  line,  made  vigorous  attempts  to 
outflank  the  Confederates  both  on  the  right  and  the  left.  These 
attempts  were  partially  successful,  but  did  not  accomplish  their 
object.  The  Federal  infantry  reached  the  flank  of  Jackson's 
line,  and  poured  a  steady  fire  into  the  Southern  troops  ;  but  the 
position  of  the  latter,  in  the  woods,  partially  concealed  them, 
and  the  Federal  fire  being  too  high,  they  suffered  comparatively 
small  loss,  and  did  not  retire.  The  remainder  of  Fulkerson's 
brigade  now  came  to  their  support,  and  soon  afterwards  the 
Stonewall  Brigade  hastened  up  and  formed  line  of  battle  upon 
Fulkerson's  right.  These  opened  immediately  a  rapid  and  de- 
structive fire.  Before  it  the  enemy's  first  line  gave  back,  and 
could  not  be  rallied ;  but  fresh  troops  instantly  took  its  place, 
and  a  resolute  charge  was  again  made  upon  the  Confederates 


KERNSTOWN.  113 

It  was  repulsed  ;  and  for  some  time  this  continued  to  be  the 
character  of  the  contest — the  Federal  troops  rushing  forward, 
the  Confederates  meeting  them  with  a  heavy  fire,  repulsing  and 
pursuing — and  then  the  sudden  appearance  of  Federal  reserves, 
in  turn  driving  back  their  adversaries. 

The  Southern  infantry  engaged  in  every  part  of  the  field 
numbered  2,742  men,  according  to  Jackson's  official  report ;  and 
lie  estimates  the  force  of  the  enemy  present  at  11,000,  of  whom 
•*'  over  8,000  "  he  declares  were  probably  engaged.  They  were 
thus  enabled  to  meet  the  Confederate  assaults  with  fresh  troops 
from  the  reserves,  and  did  do  so  with  promptness.  One  Fed- 
eral regiment  was  completely  repulsed,  and  the  Confederates 
were  hotly  pursuing  the  men  into  the  woods,  when  they  suddenly 
found  themselves  confronted  by  a  fresh  regiment  which  had  been 
lying  down.  "  They  seemed  to  rise,"  says  an  eye-witness,  "  out 
of  the  earth,  and  coming  forward  in  beautiful  order  at  a  double- 
quick,  took  their  place " — with  the  stars  and  stripes,  says 
another,  "  flaunting  in  our  very  faces."  The  battle  thus  contin- 
ued to  rage  with  varying  fortunes,  the  Federal  forces  having 
failed  to  secure  any  advantage.  The  roll  of  musketry  in  the 
woods,  says  one  who  .heard  it,  "  rose  and  fell,  and  swelled  on 
the  air  like  some  grand  infernal  organ."  The  artillery  contin- 
ued to  thunder  from  its  position,  but  its  deep  diapason  was  no 
match  for  the  frightful  din  which  rose  steadily  from  the  woods, 
and  showed  that  the  more  fatal  "  small  arms  "  were  busy  at 
their  work. 

The  action  had  now  become  furious.  There  was  little  ma- 
noeuvring on  the  part  of  either  adversary — all  was  hard,  close 
fighting.  The  lines  wavered  to  and  fro — advanced  rapidly  or 
retired  as  quickly — and  the  musketry  fire  never  relaxed.  Men 
and  officers  were  falling  or  being  wounded  and  borne  off  at  every 
moment.  Colonel  Echols  had  his  arm  broken  by  a  bullet,  and 
was  compelled  to  yield  the  command  of  his  regiment  to  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Grigsby.  Lieutenant  Dale,  of  the  5th  Virginia, 
fell  while  leading  on  his  men.  Captain  Jones  of  the  Irish  bat- 
talion, mounted  a  stump  and  was  cheering  on  his  company,  when 


LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACK8ON. 

a  bullet  penetrated  his  brain,  and  he  too  fell.  Captains  Austin,. 
Robertson,  Morrison,  Lieutenant  Lisle,  and  Lieutenant  Junkinv 
one  of  Jackson's  aide-de-camps,  were  some  of  them  wounded,, 
and  all  taken  prisoners.  Colonel  Burks  had  his  horse  shot  ia 
four  different  places,  and  six  balls  passed  through  his  clothes. 
Three  times  the  colors  of  the  2d  Virginia  were  shot  down,  and 
but  for  the  gallantry  of  Colonel  Allen,  who  leaped  from  his 
horse  and  seized  them,  they  would  have  been  captured. 

The  battle  raged  thus  blindly  and  without  plan  as  it  were, 
for  nearly  two  hours.  "  There  was  almost  a  continuous  roai 
of  musketry,"  says  Jackson  in  his  report  of  the  action,  "the 
enemy's  repulsed  regiments  being  replaced  by  fresh  ones  from 
his  large  reserves."  Jackson  was  everywhere  seen  under  the 
hottest  fire,  waving  his  sword  around  his  head,  and  exclaiming,. 
"  Give  them  one  more  volley,  my  brave  boys  !  "  His  form  tow- 
ered above  the  smoke  on  his  sorrel  horse  ;  and  a  participant  in 
the  battle  makes  the  statement  that  he  led  five  distinct  charges 
in  person. 

The  Federal  commander  was  still  endeavoring  to  accomplish 
his  original  design  of  turning  Jackson's  left,  and  assaulting  him 
in  the  rear.  But  at  that  point  Fulkerson,  with  the  23d  under 
Taliaferro,  and  the  27th  under  Carson,  held  the  position  against 
six  Federal  regiments  without  flinching.  The  ground  was  pe- 
culiar— the  adversaries  occupying  a  skirt  of  woods  on  each  side 
of  a  narrow  field  of  ploughed  ground,  with  the  substantial  stone 
wall  which  we  have  mentioned,  running  directly  across  it,  in 
their  front  and  parallel  with  their  lines.  The  distance  was  in- 
considerable between  the  two  lines  of  battle,  and  the  stone  wall 
was  a  coveted  object  with  both,  as  it  would  enable  them  to  shel- 
ter themselves  entirely  from  their  opponent's  fire.  To  attain 
this  advantage  the  two  lines  now  gradually  advanced,  continu- 
ing to  fire  hotly  as  they  came.  When  within  close  and  deadly 
range,  each  broke  at  a  rapid  double-quick  for  the  wall,  cheering 
loudly  and  endeavoring  to  reach  it  first.  The  Confederates  beat 
their  opponents  ;  they  occupied  the  position  while  their  enemies 
were  still  forty  or  fifty  yards  distant,  and,  dropping  on  their 


KERNSTOWN.  115 

"knees,  rested  their  guns  on  the  wall,  and  poured  a  heavy  volley 
into  the  Federal  line.  The  effect  was  decisive.  The  enemy 
broke  in  confusion,  left  one  of  their  colors  on  the  field,  and  re- 
treated in  disorder  to  the  shelter  of  the  woods.  An  Ohio  and  a 
Pennsylvania  regiment,  which  took  part  in  this  charge,  are  said 
to  have  carried  back  only  twenty  men.  The  rest  were  killed,  or 
left  on  the  field,  and  Fulkerson  remained  in  possession  of  the 
ground. 

The  force  of  the  Federal  commander  was  too  large,  how- 
•ever,  to  render  this  and  other  advantages  gained  by  the  South- 
ern troops,  in  any  degree  decisive  of  the  result.  Their  reserves 
enabled  them  to  fill  up  the  broken  ranks,  and  after  each  repulse 
they  returned  with  vigor  to  the  encounter.  The  engagement 
had  become  general  in  every  portion  of  the  field,  and  the  fire  of 
artillery  and  musketry  was  incessant.  The  batteries  roared 
hotly  from  the  rising  ground  on  the  right — on  the  left  the  rattle 
of  musketry  never  ceased  or  relaxed — and  from  the  direction 
of  the  turnpike,  on  the  Confederate  right,  was  heard  the  contin- 
uous thunder  of  the  artillery  under  Ashby.  The  enemy  were 
pressing  him,  too,  as  they  were  Fulkerson  on  the  left ;  and  the 
effort  to  turn  Jackson's  flanks  and  silence  his  artillery  became 
desperate.  The  guns  were  the  aim  of  the  Federal  batteries, 
and  the  object  of  charge  after  charge  by  their  infantry.  The 
fire  on  them  was  accurate,  and  resulted  in  some  loss.  One  gun 
•was  dismounted  from  its  carriage  by  a  round  shot,  and  another 
^vas  overturned  by  the  frightened  horses,  among  whom  a  shell 
had  burst.  Both  pieces  subsequently  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  The  charges  which  the  artillery  sustained  were  deter- 
mined. As  a  piece  belonging  to  the  Rockbridge  battery  was 
hurrying  to  take  position  in  a  different  portion  of  the  field,  it  was 
observed  by  a  Federal  regiment  close  at  hand,  and  a  charge 
made  to  capture  it.  The  officer  commanding  the  gun  withheld 
•his  fire  until  the  enemy  were  within  less  than  one  hundred  yards, 
when  the  piece  was  double  shotted  with  canister  and  discharged. 
The  execution  was  frightful,  and  a  second  shot  drove  back  the 
entire  regiment.  They  retired  in  confusion,  and  one  of  the  can.- 


116  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

noneers  who  served  at  the  gun,  declares  that  the  field,  as  the 
smoke  lifted,  was  "  one  withering  mass  of  humanity." 

Jackson's  whole  force,  with  the  exception  of  Campbell's  and 
Langhorne's  regiments,  was  by  this  time  engaged ;  and  he  after- 
wards declared  to  one  of  his  officers  that  it  was  "  a  fiercer  fight, 
during  its  continuance,  than  any  portion  of  the  battle  of  Ma- 
nassas."  The  stubborn  stand  made  by  the  Confederates  un- 
doubtedly discouraged  the  Federal  troops  exceedingly,  and  the 
citizens  of  Winchester  declared  that  "  crowds  came  stampeding 
through  Winchester  during  the  fight,  making  for  Yankee-land, 
and  exclaiming  that  they  were  utterly  routed."  These  numer- 
ous stragglers  were  seen  at  Charlestown,  on  the  next  morning, 
twenty-five  miles  distant ;  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  at 
one  time  the  result  of  the  action  was  extremely  doubtful.  Three 
times  the  stars  and  stripes  were  seen  to  fall,  and  three  times  the 
headlong  charge  of  the  entire  Federal  line  was  met  and  repulsed. 
Their  officers  behaved  with  great  gallantry,  and  were  seen  riding 
up  and  down  behind  the  lines,  striking  the  men  with  their 
swords,  and  ordering  them  to  return  to  the  contest.  The  Con- 
federate officers  were  equally  active,  and  performed  many  acts 
of  personal  gallantry.  Captain  B.  W.  Leigh,  of  the  Irish  Bat- 
talion, when  his  men  were  thrown  into  disorder,  seized  the  col- 
ors, and  advancing  under  a  heavy  fire  to  a  hillock  in  front  of  the 
enemy,  rallied  his  broken  line  for  a  new  struggle.  Other  exhi- 
bitions of  soldierly  coolness  were  witnessed  on  the  part  of  offi- 
cers, and  the  men  fought  with  a  persistence  scarcely  to  have 
been  expected  in  raw  troops,  the  majority  of  whom  had  never 
before  met  the  enemy.  When  the  ammunition  of  some  of  the 
regiments  became  exhausted,  the  men  borrowed  from  their  com- 
rades, and  in  the  hottest  part  of  the  battle  they  were  seen  to  stoop 
and  cut  the  cartridge-boxes  from  the  dead  bodies  of  the  enemy. 

The  battle  continued  with  unrelenting  fury  until  the  shades 
of  night  began  slowly  to  creep  across  the  fields.  The  sun  had 
sunk  behind  the  North  Mountain,  casting  the  long  shadows  of 
the  contending  lines  over  the  expanse  of  broom-straw,  now  dab- 
bled in  blood,  and  waving  in  the  chilly  March  winds  ;  and  still* 


KERNSTOWN.  117 

the  affair  seemed  as  far  from  being  decided  as  at  first.  The 
moment,  however,  was  near  at  hand  when  the  ranks  of  the  Con- 
federates were  to  be  borne  back,  and  the  Federal  forces  were  to 
hold  possession  of  the  hard-fought  field. 

Jackson  always  believed  that  he  lost  the  battle  of  Kernstown 
by  the  falling  back  of  the  Stonewall  Brigade.  How  did  these 
tried  troops,  under  gallant  officers,  come  to  incur  this  grave  im- 
putation from  their  old  chief  ?  This  question  we  shall  endeavor 
to  answer.  The  Stonewall  Brigade  had  taken  position  on  the 
right  of  Fulkerson,  and  had  sustained  charge  after  charge  with- 
out wavering.  In  their  turn  they  had  charged,  with  all  the 
soldierly  ardor  which  had  animated  them  at  Manassas,  and  the 
Federal  colors  had  more  than  once  sunk  before  them.  The 
brigade  had  come,  at  various  times,  to  the  support  of  nearly 
every  regiment  on  the  field,  and  late  in  the  afternoon  their  sup- 
ply of  ammunition  became  exhausted.  This  unfortunate  acci- 
dent occurred  at  the  most  critical  moment  of  the  battle,  when 
they  were  hotly  engaged ;  and  finding  that  his  men  were  only 
being  butchered,  without  the  power  to  return  the  enemy's  fire, 
General  Garnett,  commanding  the  brigade,  ordered  his  lines  to 
retire  a  short  distance,  where  they  were  less  exposed.  Such 
was  the  origin  of  this  unfortunate  movement.  Jackson  was 
watching  the  progress  of  the  action  from  a  point  near  at  hand, 
when  suddenly,  to  his  inexpressible  chagrin,  he  saw  the  lines  of 
his  old  brigade  fall  back.  He  galloped  to  the  spot — stern,  fiery, 
and  menacing  as  Washington  at  Monmouth — and  imperatively 
ordering  General  Garnett  to  hold  his  ground,  pushed  forward  to 
stop  and  rally  the  men.  Seeing  a  drummer  retreating  like  the 
rest,  he  seized  him  by  the  shoulder,  dragged  him  to  a  rise  in  the 
ground,  in  full  view  of  the  troops,  and  said,  in  his  curt  quick 
tones,  "  Beat  the  rally  ! " 

The   drum  rolled  at  his  order,  and  with  his  hand  on  th 
frightened  drummer's  shoulder,  amid  a  storm  of  balls,  Jackson 
saw  that  the  disordered  lines  were  reformed  and  brought  into 
something  like  order. 

But  he  had  arrived  too  late.      The  enemy  had  seen  their 


118  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

advantage,  and  were  now  pressing  forward  with  triumphant 
cheers.  They  penetrated  the  opening,  turned  Fulkerson's  right, 
and  he  was  forced  back  in  disorder.  At  the  same  moment  the 
approaching  roar  of  Ashby's  artillery  from  the  direction  of  the 
turnpike,  indicated  that  the  enemy  were  pressing  down  upon 
the  right.  The  day  was  lost. 

But  Jackson  would  not  yield.  His  stern  temper  was  fully 
aroused,  and  with  the  heavy  columns  pressing  him  on  both  flanks 
and  in  front,  he  refused  to  abandon  the  struggle.  Under  his 
passionate  appeals  and  orders  the  5th  Virginia,  though  almost 
entirely  without  ammunition,  re-formed  under  a  heavy  fire,  and 
taking  position  directly  in  front,  held  the  enemy  in  check,  with- 
out support,  until  the  arrival  of  the  42d,  under  Colonel  Lang- 
horne.  This  regiment  was  hurried  forward,  and  formed  on  the 
right  of  the  5th.  But  the  day  was  lost.  The  enemy  had  pushed 
forward  rapidly,  and  turned  the  Confederate  left  flank  ;  and  the 
handful  of  Southerners  who  still  held  their  ground,  saw  the 
Federal  columns  sweeping  round  and  nearly  enveloping  them. 
The  two  regiments  supported  for  a  time  the  weight  of  the  masses 
thrown  against  them  ;  but  the  Federal  flanking  column  having 
gotten  almost  entirely  in  the  rear  of  the  5th  Virginia,  it  was 
forced  to  fall  back.  This  exposed  the  left  flank  of  the  42d,  and 
that  regiment  in  turn  was  thrown  into  disorder,  and  retired  be- 
fore the  enemy. 

With  his  left  thus  enveloped,  his  cavalry  retiring  along  the 
turnpike  on  his  right,  and  his  centre  broken  through,  -Jackson 
could  no  longer  continue  the  contest.  He  gave  no  order  to  re- 
treat, but  that  or  destruction  was  the  alternative,  and  the  lines 
retreated  sullenly  from  the  field.  It  was  Jackson's  first  and 
last  defeat,  and  he  "  died  hard,"  fighting  to  the  last.  His  sole 
remaining  regiment  had  been  ordered  forward  to  continue  the 
action,  but  before  it  arrived  he  determined  to  fall  back.  The 
troops,  says  an  officer  who  was  present,  fell  back  "  without 
panic  "  * — sole  cheering  incident ! — and  the  enemy  was  in  pos- 
session of  the  field. 

*  "  Such  was  their  gallantry  and  Tiigh  state  of  discipline,  that  at  no  time 


BEHIND   THE    SCENES.  119 

Tftght  had  descended,  and  a  chill  wind  sighed  in  its  passage 
.over  the  wide  fields  of  broom-straw,  and  through  the  gloomy 
depths  of  the  forest,  where  so  many  dead  and  wounded  men 
were  lying.  The  Federal  troops  had  won  the  day,  but  the  price 
<xf  the  victory  had  been  bloody. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

BEHIND     THE     SCENES. 

BEFOKE  passing  to  the  events  which  succeeded  the  battle  of 
Kernstown,  let  us  glance  at  some  particulars  relating  to  this 
singular  and  comparatively  unknown  conflict.  Many  persons 
regarded  it  as  a  blunder  in  Jackson  ;  others  as  one  of  his  chief 
successes.  Federal  writers  claim  a  victory  certain  from  the 
first ;  but  Jackson  died  in  the  belief  that  if  he  had  held  his 
ground  ten  minutes  longer,  the  enemy  would  have  retreated. 
Northern  accounts  stated  the  Federal  numbers  at  10,000,  and 
Jackson's  at  12,000.  Such  were  the  various  opinions.  What 
was  the  truth? 

The  battle  was  not  a  blunder  or  an  accident,  but  the  result 
of  calculation  and  design.  Jackson  was  misinformed  in  relation 
*o  the  force  in  his  immediate  front,  but  would  have  fought  it,  at 
the  same  time  and  place,  with  full  knowledge  of  its  amount. 
An  attack  was  necessary  to  accomplish  his  object — the  retention 
of  the  Federal  forces  in  the  valley ;  and  this  attack  he  would 
•certainly  have  made.  When  he  commenced  his  march  from 
Mount  Jackson,  the  Federal  troops  were  leaving  the  valley  ;  and 
as  he  approached  Winchester,  General  Williams,  with  his  15,000 
men,  was  below  Upperville,  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  ready  to 
press  General  Johnston,  who,  falling  back  from  Manassas,  had 
reached  the  Rapidan.  It  was  important  to  divert  this  force  from 

during  the  battle  or  pursuit  did  they  give  way  to  panic." — General  SHIELDS' 
Report 


120  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

its  march,  for  the  relief  of  General  Johnston,  and  the  battle  of 
Kernstown  accomplished  this.  The  roar  of  artillery  from  Win 
cheater  was  plainly  heard  by  the  Federal  commander  ;  and 
under  the  impression,  no  doubt,  that  Jackson  had  been  strongly 
reenforced,  and  had  fallen  upon  General  Shields,  General  Wil- 
liams made  a  rapid  countermarch  to  his  assistance.  It  will  be 
seen  that  Jackson's  whole  force  up  was  3,087,  and  that  of  Gen- 
eral Shields  estimated  at  11,000.  Thus  the  assault  of  about 
3,000  men,  kept  about  26,000  from  operating  against  Johnston. 

The  action  was,  beyond  doubt,  one  of  the  fiercest  encounters 
of  the  war.  Jackson  states  his  force  present  on  the  evening  of 
the  battle  to  have  been  3,087  infantry,  290  cavalry,  and  27 
pieces  of  artillery.  Of  this  number,  2,742  infantry,  the  whole 
of  the  cavalry,  and  18  pieces  of  artillery  were  engaged.  The 
Federal  force  seems  to  have  considerably  exceeded  this.  Jack- 
eon  estimated  their  numbers  on  the  field  at  11,000,  and  stated 
that  "  probably  over  8,000  were  engaged."  He  was  always  ex- 
tremely cautious  in  his  statements,  and  this  is  doubtless  not  far 
from  the  truth,  though  it  would  seem  improbable,  that  in  a  con- 
flict so  obstinate  and  doubtful,  the  Federal  commander  would 
keep  out  of  action  reserves  amounting  to  about  3,000  men — 
more  than  Jackson's  whole  force  engaged.  Taking  this  estimate,, 
however,  the  Federal  force  was  three  times  greater  than  the 
Confederate.  The  loss  of  the  latter  was  80  killed  and  342 
wounded — i22.  A  Federal  officer  stated,  some  days  afterwards,, 
that  their  loss  in  killed  was  418.  The  Federal  report  is  not  at 
hand. 

The  battle  was  an  undoubted  defeat  of  the  Confederates. 
General  Shields  wrote :  "  The  enemy's  sufferings  have  been 
terrible,  and  such  as  they  have  nowhere  else  endured  since  the 
beginning  of  this  war."  The  Southern  loss  was  heavy,  the  vic- 
tory complete ;  but  in  spite  of  this,  the  affair  was  spoken  of 
among  Federal  officers  as  one  over  which  they  had  very  little 
reason  to. rejoice.  The  bloody  resistance  made  by  the  Southern 
troops  was  the  topic  of  conversation  in  Winchester,  and  the 
officers,  it  is  even  said,  "  did  not  claim  a  victory,  only  a  drawn 


BEHIND   THE    SCENES.  121 

battle."  We  have  quoted  General  Shields'  statement,  that  the 
Confederates  at  no  time  "  gave  way  to  panic ; "  the  testimony 
of  another  Federal  authority  was,  that  the  stubborn  stand  made 
by  one  of  the  Federal  regiments,  "  alone  saved  them." 

These  are  not  recorded  in  order  to  glorify  the  Southern 
arms,  but  to  show  that  this  brief  and  desperate  conflict  with 
which  the  spring  of  1862  opened,  was  at  one  time  very  uncer- 
tain. A  further  proof  of  this  is  a  statement  made  by  Ashby  to 
Col.  J.  M.  Patton.  Ashby  stated  that  when  the  Southern  line 
fell  back,  in  consequence  of  the  movement  of  the  Stonewall  Bri- 
gade, an  order  for  the  Federal  troops  to  retire  was  actually  on 
the  way  from  General  Shields,  and  would  have  arrived  in  ten 
minutes.  "  This,"  says  Colonel  Patton,  "  I  had  from  Colonel 
Turner  Ashby,  who  told  me  he  knew  it  to  be  so."  Ashby's  char- 
acter was  very  high,  and  he  would  not  make  such  a  statement 
lightly.  Jackson,  it  is  certain,  believed  it ;  hence  his  displeasure 
at  the  order  from  General  Garnett,  one  of  the  bravest  men  in 
the  army,  which  virtually  lost  him,  as  he  believed,  the  victory. 

Private  letters  brought  through  the  lines  seemed  to  indicate 
no  depression  of  mind  in  those  who  sympathized  with  the  Con- 
federates. The  people  around  Winchester  were  said  to  regard 
"  the  gallant  fight  of  Sunday  in  the  light  of  a  victory,"  and  an- 
other letter  described  the  passage  of  the  Confederate  prisoners 
through  the  town  as  "  a  march  of  triumph  rather  than  of  defeat." 
Every  attention  was  paid  to  them  by  the  ladies  of  Winchester, 
remarkable  throughout  the  whole  war  for  their  Confederate 
sympathies,  and  the  success  of  the  Federal  troops  seemed  only 
to  intensify  the  bitterness  of  their  dislike  for  the  blue  uniform. 
Contemporary  narratives  paint  the  scene  vividly — the  waving 
handkerchiefs  as  the  Southern  prisoners  passed  by,  and  the  flushed 
cheeks,  and  eyes  full  of  scornful  tears,  as  the  ladies  glanced 
from  the  ragged  scarecrows  of  Jackson  to  the  finely  dressed 
Federal  officers.  The  saddest  scene  of  all  was  the  appearance 
of  mothers  and  sisters  upon  the  ghastly  field  of  Kernstown.  The 
mayor  of  Winchester  and  the  citizens  dug  a  pit  on  the  battle- 
field, and  buried  the  dead  bodies  of  the  Southern  soldiers, 


122  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

Among  the  crowd  were  many  of  the  ladies  of  Winchester,  close- 
ly scanning  the  bodies  as  they  were  brought  up  one  by  one,  and 
sobbing  as  they  recognized  some  relation  or  friend.  Many 
found  their  kindred  among  the  dead  left  on  the  field,  for  the 
larger  part  of  Jackson's  force  was  from  the  valley,  and  the 
•spectacle  of  the  recognition  of  the  bodies  was  harrowing.  It 
affected  even  the  Federal  officers  present ;  but  one  of  these  de- 
clares that  every  feeling  of  the  Southern  ladies,  even  grief  for 
the  dead,  seemed  merged  into  an  intense  hatred  toward  them- 
selves. With  flashing  eyes  and  flushed  faces,  they  would  ex- 
claim, "You  may  bring  the  whole  force  of  the  North  here,  but 
you  can  never  conquer  us ! — we  will  shed  our  last  drop  of 
blood ! "  * 

Jackson  had  retreated  from  the  field  of  Kernstown  ;  but  he 
•did  not  go  far,  and  did  not  seem  to  be  aware  of  any  danger  in 
remaining  near  the  victorious  enemy.  Retiring  to  the  position 
on  the  turnpike  which  he  had  occupied  in  the  morning,  he  issued 
orders  for  the  troops  to  bivouac  where  they  were,  and  soon  the 
fires  were  seen  sparkling  like  stars  along  the  roadside,  the  men 

*  "There  is  nothing,"  says  the  correspondent  of  a  Northern  journal, 
*vrating  of  the  Southern  ladies,  "  nothing  they  will  not  surrender  with  a  smile 
• — the  gemmed  ring,  the  diamond  bracelet,  the  rich  wardrobe.  They  cut  up 
'rich  carpets  for  soldiers'  blankets  without  a  sigh ;  they  take  the  fine  linen 
from  their  persons  for  bandages.  When  four  hundred  of  Longstreet's  men 
came  up  to  Nashville  prisoners  of  war,  about  the  roughest,  dirtiest  looking  set 
of  fellows  the  sun  ever  shone  on,  and  a  flight  of  stairs  in  the  building  they 
occupied  fell,  killing  and.  wounding  a  large  number  of  them,  you  should  have 
seen  the  fair  young  traitoresses  come  forth  from  the  old  aristocratic  mansions, 
bearing  restoratives  and  delicacies  in  their  hands,  mingling  in  the  dingy  crowd, 
•wiping  away  the  blood  with  their  white  handkerchiefs,  and  uttering  words  of 
•cheer ;  should  have  seen  them  doing  this  with  hundreds  of  Union  soldiers  all 
around,  and  smiling  back  on  the  rough  blackguards  of  rebels  as  they  left. 
JBut  in  all  there  was  a  defiant  air  in  their  humanity  strange  to  see.  Of  a 
truth,  they  carried  it  off  grandly.  And  about  all  these  girls  were  in  mourn- 
ing for  dead  rebels — brothers,  lovers,  friends,  whom  these  same  girls  had 
sneered  into  treason  and  driven  into  rebellion,  and  billowed  all  the  South 
with  their  graves ;  and  the  least  they  could  do  was  to  wear  black  for  them 
and  flaunt  black  from  the  window  blinds.  Clothed  be  their  souls  in  black." 


BEHIND   THE    SCENES.  123 

cooking  their  rations  and  laughing  over  the  events  of  the  day. 
Jackson  got  an  armful  of  corn  for  his  horse,  and,  wrapping  his 
blanket  around  him,  laid  down  by  a  fire  in  a  fence  corner  and; 
went  to  sleep.  He  was  close  enough  to  hear  the  conversation, 
of  the  Federal  soldiers  at  their  camp  fires.  At  four  o'clock  ia 
the  morning  he  commenced  his  retreat. 

The  enemy  followed,  and  at  Cedar  Creek  opened  upon  his 
trains  with  artillery,  forcing  him  to  continue  his  retreat.  It 
was  made  deliberately,  and  growing  tired,  apparently,  of  assail* 
ing  so  impassive  an  adversary,  the  Federal  commander  gave 
up  the  pursuit,  fell  back  from  Strasburg,  barricading  the  roads 
in  his  rear,  and  returned  to  "Winchester. 

One  of  the  many  peculiar  features  of  the  battle  above  de-* 
scribed,  was  the  effect  it  produced  upon  the  men  and  the  opinion 
it  gave  them  of  Jackson.  Defeats  generally  dishearten  troops,, 
and  put  them  out  of  humor  with  their  commander.  The  result 
on  this  occasion  seems  to  have  been  very  different.  "  We  don't 
feel  at  all  whipped,"  wrote  an  officer  to  his  wife  ;  and  if  it  were 
Avorth  while,  we  might  record  many  incidents  showing  that  the 
men  of  Jackson  were  proud  of  their  exertions  at  Kernstown,  and 
believed  that  the  enemy  had  suffered  far  more  than  themselves. 
Their  sentiment  toward  their  commander  was  still  more  strik* 
ing.  Jackson  had  fought  them  desperately,  and  had  them  near* 
ly  cut  to  pieces ;  but  one  of  the  officers  of  Loring,  who  signed 
the  protest  against  him  at  Romney,  says  that  after  Kernstowu 
"  the  men  went  frantic  about  him."  As  he  passed  along  the 
column  they  cheered  him  vociferously— the  men  of  Loring  as 
well  as  of  his  own  Stonewall  Brigade,  To  fight  them  with  despera* 
tion  and  march  them  to  death,  seemed,  to  judge  from  their  de» 
meaner,  the  best  claims  on  the  regards  of  the  troops.  They 
struggled  on  exhausted,  but  jesting,  and  one  was  heard  to  say  j 
"  Why  is  Old  Jack  a  better  general  than  Moses  ?  Because  it 
took  Moses  forty  years  to  lead  the  Israelites  through  the  wilder-* 
ness,  and  Old  Jack  would  have  double-quicked  them  through  ii 
three  days  ! "  Jackson's  spirit  of  oombativeness  seems  to  have 
excited  this  enthusiasm ;  and  it  is  certain  that  from  the  time  ok 


124  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

the  battle  of  Kernstown,  he  seemed  able  to  achieve,  with  his  own 
particular  troops,  impossibilities  almost.  He  held  them  in  his 
grasp  as  a  sharp  and  tempered  weapon,  and  it  never  failed  him. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
MCDOWELL. 

KERXSTOWN  had  been  only  a  momentary  check.  The 
enemy  now  resumed  their  former  design  of  following  Jackson 
and  clearing  out  the  upper  regions  of  the  valley,  with  an  energy 
greater  than  before. 

The  plans  of  -the  Federal  authorities  for  the  conduct  of  the 
campaign  and  the  thorough  subjugation  of  the  State  were  now 
ripe.  The  following  letter  from  General  McClellan,  addressed 
to  General  Banks  on  the  first  day  of  April,  will  throw  some 
Jight  on  the  Federal  programme  : 


HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
ON  BOARD  COMMODORE,  April  1,  1862. 


4 

MAJOR-GENERAL  N.  P.  BANKS,  Commcmding  5th  Army  Corps  : 

GENERAL  :  The  change  in  affairs  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah  has  ren- 
dered necessary  a  corresponding  departure — temporary  at  least — from  the  plan 
we  some  days  since  agreed  upon. 

In  my  arrangements  I  assume  that  you  have  a  force  sufficient  to  drive 
.Jackson  before  you,  provided  he  is  not  reenforced  largely.  I  also  assume 
that  you  may  find  it  impossible  to  find  any  thing  towards  Manassas  for  some 
days ;  probably  not  until  the  operation?  of  the  main  army  have  drawn  all  the 
rebel  force  toward  Richmond.  .  .  . 

I  doubt  whether  Johnston  will  now  reenforce  Jackson  with  a  view  to  offen- 
sive operations.  The  time  has  probably  passed  when  he  could  have  gained 
any  thing  by  so  doing.  .  .  . 

I  will  order  Blenker  to  move  on  Strasburg,  and  report  to  you  for  tempo- 
rary duty ;  so  that,  should  you  find  a  large  force  in  your  front,  you  can  avail 
yourself  of  his  aid.  .  ,  . 

In  regard  to  your  movements — the  most  important  thing  is  to  throw  Jack 
*on  well  back,  and  then  to  assume  such  a  position  as  will  enable  you  to  pre 


MCDOWELL.  125 

vent  his  return.  As  soon  as  the  railway  communications  are  reestablished,  it 
will  be  probably  important  and  advisable  to  move  on  Staunton ;  but  this 
would  require  communications,  and  a  force  of  25,000  to  30,000  for  active  op- 
erations. It  should  also  be  nearly  coincident  with  my  own  move  on  Rich- 
mond ;  at  all  events  not  so  long  before  it  as  to  enable  the  rebels  to  concen- 
trate on  you  and  then  return  on  me.  .  .  . 

Please  inform  me  frequently  by  telegraph  and  otherwise  as  to  the  state  of 
things  in  your  front.  I  am  very  truly  yours, 

GEORGE  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that,  to  "  throw  Jackson  well  back,"  and, 
when  the  railroad  was  ready,  to  "  move  on  Staunton,"  were  the 
intentions  of  the  Federal  commander  about  the  first  of  April. 
To  cooperate  with  General  Banks,  two  other  columns  were  to 
move  in  the  same  direction  from  different  points— one  under 
General  Fremont  from  the  upper  waters  of  the  Potomac,  and  a 
considerable  force  under  General  Milroy  from  the  direction  of 
Monterey.  With  Banks  and  Fremont  following  on  Jackson's 
rear,  and  Milroy  sweeping  down  on  his  flank  from  the  western 
mountains,  it  was  confidently  anticipated  that  the  Confederate 
leader  would  be  crushed,  and  the  rich  region  around  Staunton 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Federal  forces. 

.  Such  was  the  plan  of  operations,  and  such  the  situation  of 
Jackson,  in  the  beginning  of  the  month  of  April,  which  had  now 
opened  with  its  bright  verdure  and  brilliant  sky. 

Jackson  slowly  retreated  after  the  battle  of  Kernstown,  the 
enemy  pursuing  him  in  force  and  skirmishing  incessantly  with 
his  rear-guard  under  Ashby.  That  cavalier  was  untiring  in  the 
performance  of  his  important  duty,  and  the  roar  of  his  artillery 
continued  throughout  the  day — saluting  the  ears  of  the  troops  as> 
they  awoke  in  the  morning  or  laid  down  in  bivouac  at  night. 
The  men  suffered  few  hardships  during  the  retreat.  The 
weather  was  growing  mild,  and  delightful  with  the  approaching 
spring,  and  though,  by  an  order  of  Jackson,  none  but  command- 
ers of  brigades  were  allowed  to  have  tents,  the  troops  did  not 
complain  of  sleeping  in  the  open  air.  They  kindled  their  camp- 
fires  on  the  side  of  the  turnpike,  and,  lulled  by  the  distant  thun- 


126  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

der  ot  A.shby's  artillery,  went  to  sleep  as  soundly  as  if  they  had 
been  at  home  in  their  beds. 

Jackson  thus  crept  along  in  the  days  succeeding  Kernstown 
— like  a  wounded  wolf,  but  turning  every  moment  to  snap  at  his 
pursuers,  and  offer  battle  if  they  pressed  on  him — and  thus  came 
again  to  the  vicinity  of  Mount  Jackson,  where  he  went  into 
the  old  camps  which  he  had  abandoned  to  march  to  Winchester. 
Here  he  remained  for  more  than  a  fortnight,  paying  no  attention 
to  the  enemy,  whose  large  force  was  at  the  village  of  Edinburg, 
in  his  front.  General  Banks  seems  to  have  been  afraid  to 
attack  him  during  this  time,  and  contented  himself  with  skir- 
mishes while  waiting  for  reinforcements  to  his  already  large 
army. 

About  the  middle  of  April,  however,  General  Banks  again 
began  to  move,  and  Jackson  promptly  broke  up  his  camp  and 
resumed  his  retreat.  He  reached  the  north  fork  of  the  Shenan- 
doah  where  the  turnpike  crosses  it  without  loss,  and  now,  if  he 
could  destroy  the  bridge  in  his  rear  before  the  enemy  reached  it, 
their  further  advance  would  be  temporarily  checked.  They 
were  pressing  on,  driving  Ashby  before  them  ;  and  knowing  the 
importance  of  preventing,  if  possible,  the  destruction  of  the 
bridge,  made  great  exertions  to  attain  that  object.  Ashby  held 
them  in  check  only  by  the  most  determined  fighting ;  and  when 
the  infantry  and  artillery  crossed  the  bridge,  the  roar  of  the 
guns  from  the  rear-guard,  close  at  hand,  indicated  the 
near  approach  of  the  enemy.  The  bridge  was  finally  passed  by 
the  army,  and  it  was  Ashby's  business  now  to  destroy  it,  and 
check  further  pursuit.  The  task  delighted  this  soldier;  for 
nothing  is  more  certain  than  the  fact  that  he  loved  danger  for 
its  own  sake,  and  never  was  so  happy  as  when  contending 
face  to  face  with  imminent  peril.  Those  who  differ  from  him 
in  temperament  may  doubt  this  assertion,  but  the  friends  who 
knew  him  best  will  support  our  statement.  The  work  now  be- 
fore him  was  one  of  those  tests  of  the  stern  fibre  of  his  courage 
which  he  loved  best  of  all  in  the  life  of  a  soldier.  With  the  masses 
of  Federal  cavalry  and  artillery,  supported  by  infantry,  pressing 


MoDOWELL.  127 

hotly  on  him,  he  had  employment  for  his  best  faculties.  Hur* 
rying  his  cavalry  across  the  bridge,  he  followed  in  person  with 
the  artillery,  which  thundered  over  at  a  gallop,  and  then  with  a 
detachment  of  picked  men  he  hastened  to  apply  fire  to  the  bridge. 
The  euemy  were  now  upon  him.  Their  cavalry  advanced  at  a 
gallop,  firing  volleys  as  they  came,  but  Ashby  remained  seated 
upon  his  white  horse  superintending  the  work.  It  was  more 
difficult  than  he  had  expected.  The  timbers  were  wet  from 
rain,  the  flame  would  not  kindle,  and  the  bullets  whistling 
around  the  heads  of  the  working  party  embarrassed  their  exer- 
tions. The  Federal  cavalry  had  now  reached  the  bridge,  the 
first  files  dashed  across,  and  Ashby's  men  ran  to  their  horses, 
leaving  him  alone.  He  was  obliged  to  follow  or  be  captured, 
and  galloped  off  last,  pursued  by  eight  of  the  enemy,  whose  fire 
he  was  unable  to  return,  his  own  pistols  having  been  emptied. 
They  followed  him  closely,  firing  incessantly  upon  him  as  he  re- 
treated, and  this  animated  chase  continued  for  nearly  two  miles. 
Assistance  was  then  near,  and,  looking  back,  Ashby  saw  that 
two  of  his  pursuers  were  in  advance  of  the  rest.  This  odds  was 
not  great,  and  he  at  once  reined  in.  The  Federal  cavalrymen 
came  on  at  a  headlong  gallop,  carried  forward  by  their  horses, 
and  the  next  moment  terminated  their  career.  A  bullet  from 
one  of  Ashby's  command  pierced  one  of  them  through  the  body, 
and  the  other,  arriving  abreast  of  Ashby,  was  cut  down  with  one 
blow  of  his  sabre. 

Such  was  the  famous  chase  of  Ashby.  He  had  distanced 
his  enemies,  but  the  fine  horse  which  he  rode — the  beautiful 
milk-white  charger  which  the  whole  army  admired — had  received 
a  mortal  wound.  A  ball  had  pierced  his  side,  and  the  blood 
was  now  gushing  out  at  every  pant.  As  he  was  led  along  the 
line  of  a  regiment  under  arms,  an  eye-witness  declares  that  he 
never  had  imagined  so  spirited  and  magnificent  an  animal.  "  He 
was  white  as  snow,"  says  our  authority,  "  except  where  his  side 
and  legs  were  stained  with  his  own  blood.  His  mane  and  tail 
were  long  and  flowing ;  his  eye  and  action  evinced  distinctly  the 
rage  with  which  he  regarded  the  injury  which  he  had  received 


128  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

He  trod  the  earth  with  the  grandeur  of  a  wounded  lion,  and 
every  soldier  looked  upon  him  with  sympathy  and  admiration. 
He  had  saved  his  master  at  the  cost  of  his  own  life.  He  almost 
seemed  conscious  of  his  achievement,  and  only  to  regret  death 
because  his  own  injuries  were  unavenged."* 

The  Federal  forces  did  not  press  Jackson  closely  after  the 
passage  of  the  bridge,  and  he  continued  his  retreat  without  in- 
terruption. Crossing,  on  the  19th  of  April,  into  Elk  Run  Val- 
ley, he  took  up  a  strong  position  between  that  place  and  Swift 
Run  Gap,  and  faced  the  enemy,  with  the  determination  to  make 
a  stand  and  receive  his  attack.  His  new  position  had  been 
chosen  with  the  eye  of  a  soldier,  and  gave  him  many  advan- 
tages. He  was  able  here  to  meet,  in  a  strong  position,  the  assault 
of  the  force  which  had  followed  him  up  the  valley  ;  to  face  tin 
column  under  Milroy,  rapidly  advancing  from  the  west,  toward 
Staunton  ;  and,  if  necessary,  to  retreat  upon  Richmond,  and  unite 
his  forces  with  those  of  General  Johnston,  against  the  army  un- 
der General  McClellan  on  the  Peninsula. 

The  strength  of  his  position  was  appreciated  by  General 
Banks,  and  the  main  body  of  that  commander's  army  did  not 
proceed  further  south  than  Harrisonburg.  He  seems  to  have 
regarded  the  campaign  as  ended.  On  the  24th  of  April  he  tele- 
graphed to  President  Lincoln :  u  The  rebel  Jackson  has  aban- 
doned the  Valley  of  Virginia  permanently,  and  is  en  route  to 
Gordonsville  by  the  way  of  the  mountains."  General  Banks 
was  soon  to  find,  however,  that  the  dangerous  rebel  had  no 
thought  of  retreating. 

We  have  a  characteristic  picture  of  Jackson  at  this  time, 
which  may  interest  the  reader.  He  was  riding,  on  one  Sunday 
morning,  along  his  lines  drawn  up  for  inspection,  when  Dr. 
Dabney,  his  chaplain,  determined  to  address  the  men.  He  and 
Jackson  accordingly  dismounted  and  tied  their  horses  ;  the  Bible 
was  laid  open  upon  the  head  of  a  bass  drum ;  the  small  drums 
beat  to  attention,  and  Dr.  Dabney  preached  to  the  troops.  Dur- 
ing the  sermon  of  more  than  an  hour,  Jackson  stood  perfectly 
motionless,  with  his  old  cap  drawn  down  to  shield  his  eyes  from 
*  See  note  in  Appendix. 


MCDOWELL.  128 

the  dazzling  sunlight ;  and  throughout  the  whole  sermon  an  offi- 
cer directly  in  front  of  him  declares  he  did  not  move,  or  even 
•"  wink  his  eyes." 

Jackson's  position  was  strong,  but  things  looked  hopeless  for 
a  further  continuation  of  the  campaign  in  the  valley.  Forced 
back  to  the  Blue  Ridge  by  the  heavy  columns  in  his  front,  he 
now  saw  approaching  from  the  western  mountains  another  army 
under  Milroy,  which  would  swoop  down  like  a  hawk  upon 
Staunton,  and  the  whole  region  be  in  the  possession  of  the  ene- 
my. General  Milroy  was  rapidly  moving  from  the  direction 
of  Monterey  with  his  main  body,  and  his  advance  force  had 
already  crossed  the  Shenandoah  Mountain. 

The  rich  prize  of  the  Valley  of  Virginia  seemed  almost  in 
the  Federal  grasp — its  fate  trembled  in  the  balance.  If  Banks 
and  Milroy  formed  a  junction,  Staunton  was  gone  ;  and  as  Gen- 
eral Edward  Johnson,  with  two  brigades,  was  then  near  Buffalo 
Gap,  a  further  result  from  the  seizure  of  a  point  so  important 
would  be  to  place  the  Federal  forces  between  General  Edward 
Johnson  and  the  main  army  at  Swift  Run  Gap.  Jackson  was 
forced  to  decide  promptly  what  course  he  would  pursue.  Divide 
et  impera  was  obviously  his  best  policy  ;  and  he  determined  to 
advance  immediately  and  attack  the  force  approaching  from  the 
west.  General  Ewell  had  just  arrived  from  Gordonsville  with 
his  division,  and  Jackson  posted  him  at  Swift  Run  Gap  to  con- 
front General  Banks,  while  by  a  forced  march  he  would  sweep 
around  by  Staunton,  and  fall  upon  General  Milroy.  After  de- 
feating that  commander,  his  design  was  to  concentrate  his  own 
forces,  Ewell's,  and  Johnson's,  upon  Banks,  and  drive  his  col- 
umn back  down  the  valley  to  Winchester. 

His  plans  were  instantly  put  into  execution.  Taking  his 
own  division,  consisting  of  the  brigades  commanded  by  General 
Taliaferro,  General  Winder  (Stonewall  Brigade),  and  Colonel 
Campbell,  he  proceeded  rapidly  to  Staunton,  where  he  found 
General  Smith,  of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  with  his  corps 
of  cadets,  which  had  been  directed  to  repair  thither  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  region.  From  that  point  he  continued  to  move 


130  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

westward,  and,  forming  a  junction  with  General  Edward  John- 
son,  who  had  six  regiments  under  his  command,  advanced  by 
forced  marches  upon  Milroy. 

On  the  morning  of  May  the  7th,  General  Johnson,  who 
knew  the  country  thoroughly,  and  led  the  advance,  encountered 
the  enemy  at  the  Shenandoah  Mountain,  and  drove  four  regi- 
ments on  picket  there  before  him.  They  retreated  in  haste, 
and  the  Confederates  took  possession  of  their  camps,  in  which 
were  found  tents,  clothes,  arms,  and  a  considerable  amount  of 
commissary  stores.  Scouts  ascended  the  mountain,  and  were 
followed  by  a  portion  of  the  troops,  who  saw,  as  they  reached  the 
deserted  camps  on  the  summit  of  the  range,  the  enemy's  regi- 
ments retreating  about  five  miles  in  front  of  them,  on  the  east 
side  of  Bull  Pasture  Mountain.  On  the  western  slope  of  the 
Shenandoah  Mountain,  which  had  thus  been  cleared  of  the  enemy, 
the  men  went  into  bivouac  for  the  night. 

At  sunrise  on  the  following  morning  the  troops  were  again 
put  in  motion,  and  advanced  toward  McDowell,  a  little  village 
situated  in  the  valley  of  that  name,  just  beyond  the  Bull  Pasture 
Mountain.  The  men  pressed  forward  and  approached  the  east- 
ern slope  of  the  wooded  range,  when  Ashby's  scouts,  who  had 
gone  in  advance  and  reconnoitred,  returned  with  the  intelligence 
that  the  enemy  had  posted  four  pieces  of  artillery  in  the  road* 
on  the  western  base  of  the  mountain,  with  the  obvious  intention 
of  disputing  the  further  advance.  The  road  at  that  point  passed 
through  a  narrow  gorge,  which  was  susceptible  of  being  defended 
by  a  very  small  force  against  one  much  larger  ;  and  Jackson  de- 
termined to  turn  the  position  by  ascending  the  steep  road  leading 
up  the  mountain,  near  the  gorge.  This  movement  was  executed 
without  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  and  the  elevated 
ground  was  attained.  General  Johnson,  who  led  the  advance, 
then  proceeded  with  a  party  of  thirty  men  and  several  officers 
to  the  top  of  Sutlington's  Hill,  an  isolated  spur  of  the  mountain, 
on  the  left  of  the  main  road,  and  saw  before  him,  at  his  feet  as 
it  were,  the  whole  valley  of  McDowell,  bathed  in  the  warm  sun- 
light of  the  May  morning.  From  this  elevated  point  the  entire 


MCDOWELL.  131 

position  of  the  enemy  was  commanded,  and  their  strength  to  a 
partial  extent  discovered.  In  the  valley  near  McDowell  a  con- 
siderable body  of  infantry  was  seen,  and  a  height  more  to  the 
right  was  occupied  by  two  additional  regiments,  drawn  up  in 
line  of  battle.  Directly  in  front,  about  a  mile  from  the  position 
occupied  by  General  Johnson,  a  battery  had  been  posted,  sup- 
ported by  a  body  of  infantry. 

The  presence  of  the  reconnoitring  party  on  Sutlington's  Hill 
was  speedily  discovered,  and  the  enemy  sent  forward  a  body  of 
skirmishers  to  attack  it.  These  were  engaged  by  the  thirty  men 
which  formed  General  Johnson's  escort,  and  the  Federal  skir- 
mishers were  driven  back.  General  Johnson  then  sent  word  to 
Jackson  that  the  hill  was  a  position  of  great  importance,  and  the 
six  regiments  of  Johnson's  command  were  accordingly  despatched 
to  him  to  hold  it. 

The  battle  of  McDowell  commenced  at  this  point,  and  was 
a  struggle  for  the  possession  of  Sutlington's  Hill. 

As  General  Johnson's  regiments  were  hurried  forward,  one 
after  another,  to  the  elevated  ground,  he  hastened  to  place  each 
in  line  of  battle  to  repulse  the  assault  which  it  was  evident  Gen- 
eral Milroy  was  now  about  to  make.  The  Federal  commander 
is  said  to  have  sent  to  General  Fremont,  who  was  approaching 
from  the  northwest,  for  reinforcements  ;  but  he  had  a  consider- 
able body  of  troops  concentrated  in  front  of  the  Confederates, 
and  he  seems  to  have  determined  to  direct  all  his  energies  mean- 
while to  the  object  of  occupying  the  important  position  from 
which  General  Johnson  had  made  his  reconnoissance,  in  advance 
of  the  latter. 

Johnson  had  made  rapid  preparations  to  receive  the  ex- 
pected attack.  His  two  brigades,  respectively  commanded  by 
Colonels  Scott  and  Connor,  had  not  yet  arrived,  but  a  portion 
of  one  of  them — the  52d  Virginia  infantry — was  already  in  posi- 
tion in  the  woods  on  the  left  side  of  the  spur.  This  regiment 
received  and  repulsed  the  assault  of  the  enemy's  skirmishers, 
and  thus  gave  time  for  the  arrival  of  the  other  regiments,  all  of 
•which,  but  two,  hastened  forward  to  the  positions  assigned  to 


132  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

them.  The  52d  Virginia,  as  we  have  said,  held  the  left ;  the 
58th  Virginia  formed  on  the  right  of  that ;  the  12th  Georgia  on 
the  right  of  that,  and  holding  the  crest  of  the  hill ;  the  44th  Vir- 
ginia on  the  right  of  all,  near  a  ravine  which  protected  its  right 
flank.  On  the  slope  of  the  hill,  in  front  of  the  Confederate  lines, 
was  a  body  of  woods,  in  which  the  skirmishers  were  posted,  and 
in  this  order  General  Johnson  awaited  the  assault  which  he  saw 
would  soon  be  renewed.  He  had  no  artillery  in  position,  nor 
was  any  used  by  the  Confederates  during  the  engagement. 
There  was  no  road  to  the  rear  by  which  it  could  have  been  with- 
drawn in  case  of  disaster. 

During  the  pause  which  succeeded  the  first  advance  of  his 
skirmishers,  and  their  repulse,  the  enemy  opened  with  his  artil- 
lery directly  in  front,  and  kept  up  a  rapid  and  incessant  cannon- 
ade while  making  his  further  preparations.  A  shower  of  case 
shot  and  shell  was  thrown  into  the  Confederate  lines,  but  the 
troops  were  so  well  under  cover,  and  the  angle  of  elevation  at 
which  the  pieces  were  fired  was  so  great,  that  no  loss  was  in- 
flicted. The  artillery  continued  to  thunder,  with  no  response  of 
any  description,  until  the  moment  came  for  the  advance  of  the 
Federal  infantry,  when  it  ceased  firing. 

General  Milroy  had  been  reenforced  by  the  arrival  of  Gen- 
eral Schenck,  who  had  been  hurried  forward  while  the  Confeder- 
ates were  held  in  check  by  his  artillery,  and  had  now  at  his 
disposal  a  force  estimated  at  8,000  men.  This  force  he  threw 
forward,  with  the  evident  determination  of  carrying  Sutlington's 
Hill,  and  driving  the  Southern  troops  from  the  advantageous 
position  which  they  occupied  on  its  summit.  The  attack  was 
.vigorous  and  resolute.  Advancing  a  heavy  line  of  infantry 
toward  the  western  slope  of  the  hill,  where  the  character  of  the 
ground  and  the  thick  woods  afforded  him  great  protection,  the 
enemy  charged  up  the  hill,  drove  the  Confederate  skirmishers 
from  their  cover,  and,  emerging  from  the  woods  directly  in  front 
of  Jackson's  line,  poured  a  sudden  and  galling  fire  upon  his 
right.  The  12th  Georgia  in  the  centre,  and  the  44th  Virginia 
on  its  right,  received  this  fire,  and  responded  with  a  heavy  vol- 


MCDOWELL.  133 

ley ;  and  in  a  moment  the  battle  began  to  rage  with  violence. 
These  two  regiments  supported  alone  the  whole  weight  of  the 
column  thrown  against  this  point,  delivering  a  fire  so  rapid  and 
steady  that  the  charge,  which  was  intended  to  repulse  and  turn 
the  Confederate  right  wing,  completely  failed.  The  two  remain- 
ing regiments  of  Johnson's  command,  the  25th  and  3 1st  Virginia, 
now  hastened  up  the  rough  road  to  the  support  of  the  others  ;  and 
the  Federal  troops,  having  returned  to  the  charge  with  greater 
fury  than  before,  a  sanguinary  contest  ensued  all  along  the  line. 

The  Federal  commander  seemed  determined  to  make  the 
battle  "  short  and  decisive,"  and  to  gain  possession  of  the  covet- 
ed hill  by  one  brief  and  desperate  charge,  which  should  over- 
whelm all  resistance,  and  accomplish  his  object  at  a  blow.  The 
Federal  lines  were  thrown  forward  amid  rolling  volleys  of  mus- 
ketry, and  they  pressed  General  Johnson  with  a  force  so  heavy 
that  the  utmost  exertions  of  the  troops  under  that  commander 
were  necessary  to  retain  possession  of  the  hill.  The  densely 
wooded  hillside  was  one  long  sheet  of  flame,  and  the  reverbera- 
tions rising  from  the  forest  and  rolling  along  the  mountain 
warned  Jackson  that  the  moment  had  arrived  to  throw  forward 
his  main  body. 

General  Taliaferro  was  accordingly  sent  forward,  and  has- 
tened with  his  brigade  up  the  rough  and  winding  by-road  which 
led  from  the  turnpike  to  the  summit  of  the  hill,  the  21st  Vir- 
ginia <  being  left  at  the  point  on  the  turnpike  where  the  wood 
road  entered  it  to  guard  against  an  attack  of  the  enemy  on  the 
rear.  Taliaferro  soon  reached  the  field,  and  promptly  threw  his 
brigade  into  line  of  battle ;  the  23d  and  37th  to  support  John- 
son's centre,  where  the  12th  Georgia  was  holding  its  ground 
"  with  great  gallantry  ;"  and  the  10th  Virginia  on  the  left,  where 
the  52d  had  succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy  headlong  down  the 
hill.  This  regiment,  now  reenforced  by  the  10th,  advanced  with 
loud  cheers  ;  and  such  was  the  impetuosity  of  the  men,  that  the 
Federal  right  wing  was  repulsed,  and  the  Confederate  left  swept 
round  with  the  design  of  assailing  the  enemy  in  flank,  and  forcing 
them  back  upon  their  centre. 


134  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

The  resolute  and  aggressive  front  thus  displayed  on  Jackson's 
left  induced  the  enemy  to  concentrate  their  main  strength  against 
his  right,  and,  by  a  determined  attack,  attempt  to  turn  that 
flank,  and  drive  him  from  the  hill.  This  design  was  speedily 
discovered  by  Jackson,  and  his  whole  disposable  force  was  rap- 
idly concentrated  in  that  part  of  the  field  to  resist  it.  Talia- 
ferr;  and  the  12th  Georgia  came  quickly  to  the  assistance  of  the 
right  wing,  now  hard  pressed  by  numbers ;  and  observing  that 
an  elevated  piece  of  woodland  to  the  right  and  rear  completely 
commanded  the  field,  and  afforded  an  excellent  position  to  fall 
back  to  if  necessary,  Jackson  hastened  to  occupy  it  with  portions 
of  the  25th  and  31st  Virginia  regiments,  which  were  hurried 
forward  and  rapidly  placed  in  position.  The  interval  between 
this  force  and  the  main  body  was  filled  by  Campbell's  brigade 
and  the  10th  Virginia  which  had  hastened  up  from  the  left,  and 
with  this  strong  reserve  posted  in  the  woods  near  the  base  of  the 
ridge,  Jackson  felt  confident  that  the  determined  effort  of  the 
enemy  to  turn  his  right  flank  would  be  defeated. 

His  anticipations  were  correct,  and  his  dispositions  crowned 
with  success.  The  Federal  forces  made  a  persistent  attempt  to 
break  through  this  new  line  and  obtain  possession  of  the  hill ; 
but  charge  after  charge  was  repulsed.  General  Johnson  was 
wounded  and  forced  to  quit  the  field,  but  General  Taliaferro 
took  his  place  and  led  the  troops  with  skill  and  gallantry.  Many 
officers  fell ;  among  the  killed  and  wounded  were  Colonel  Gib- 
bons of  the  10th,  Colonel  Harman  of  the  52d,  Colonel  'Smith 
and  Major  Higginbotham  of  the  25th,  and  Major  Campbell  of 
the  42d  Virginia.  The  Confederate  troops,  however,  held  the 
position  which  they  had  occupied,  and  the  battle  raged  along  the 
wooded  slopes  of  the  mountain  until  after  dark,  when  the  Fed- 
eral forces  gave  up  the  attempt  to  carry  the  hill,  and  retired. 

General  Milroy  did  not  want  to  sustain  the  attack  which  he 
had  every  reason  to  expect  would  be  made  upon  him  on  the  en- 
suing morning ;  during  the  night  he  evacuated  McDowell,  set 
the  woods  on  fire  in  his  rear,  and  retreated  toward  Franklin. 

The  battle  of  McDowell  took  place  between  the  hours  of  half- 


MCDOWELL.  135 

past  four  and  half-past  eight  on  the  afternoon  of  the  8th  of  May, 
and  thus  lasted  four  hours.  It  was  hotly  contested,  especially 
in  the  latter  portion  of  the  day,  when  the  determined  attempt 
was  made  by  the  enemy  to  turn  the  Confederate  right,  and  some 
of  the  Southern  regiments  suffered  severely.  The  Confederate 
loss  in  killed  was  71,  in  wounded  390,  making  a  total  loss  of 
461.  That  of  the  Federal  troops  is  not  known,  as  they  held 
their  ground  until  night  and  bore  off  their  dead.  But  103  bodies 
are  said  to  have  been  discovered,  covered  with  brushwood,  in  a 
hollow  of  the  mountain.  At  the  village  of  McDowell  a  camp 
was  found,  with  large  bake  ovens,  cooking  stoves,  and  every 
appliance  of  comfort.  The  camp  equipage,  some  cases  of  fine 
Enfield  rifles,  and  other  public  stores,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Confederates. 

Having  announced  his  success  to  the  authorities  at  Richmond 
by  the  brief  despatch,  "  God  blessed  our  arms  with  victory  at 
McDowell  yesterday,"  Jackson  went  in  pursuit  of  General  Mil- 
roy,  and  continued  to  press  him  until  he  had  reached  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  town  of  Franklin.  The  Federal  troops,  who  had 
halted  here,  did  not  offer  battle,  but  retiring  to  the  mountains 
near  at  hand,  planted  their  batteries,  and  set  fire  to  the  woods  in 
front  to  conceal  their  position.  The  dense  smoke  which  rose 
from  the  burning  forest  effectually  accomplished  this  object,  and 
night  approaching  Jackson  made  no  attack.  On  the  next  morn- 
ing he  found  that  the  enemy  had  taken  up  a  very  strong  position, 
and  as  his  own  situation,  with  General  Banks  at  Harrisonburg, 
was  by  no  means  safe,  he  prepared  to  retrace  his  steps. 

Before  leaving  Franklin  he  determined,  however,  to  formally 
return  thanks  to  God  for  his  success  in  the  recent  conflict.  The 
scene  which  followed  is  said  to  have  been  affecting  and  impos- 
ing. Jackson  drew  up  his  men  in  a  little  valley  about  three 
miles  north  of  Franklin,  and  after  a  few  words,  in  his  habitual 
curt  tone,  commending  their  gallantry  at  McDowell,  appoint'*! 
10  o'clock  on  that  day  as  the  occasion  of  prayer  and  thanksgiving 
for  the  victory.  "  There,  in  the  beautiful  little  valley  of  ;he 
South  Branch,"  says  an  eye-witness,  "  with  the  blue  and  tower- 


136  LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

ing  mountains  covered  with  the  verdure  of  spring,  the  green 
sward  smiling  a  welcome  to  the  season  of  flowers,  and  the  bright 
sun  unclouded,  lending  a  genial  refreshing  warmth,  that  army, 
equipped  for  the  stern  conflict  of  war,  bent  in  humble  praise  and 
thanksgiving  to  the  God  of  battles,  for  the  success  vouchsafed  to 
our  arms."  During  this  scene,  the  artillery  of  the  enemy  rolled 
its  threatening  thunders  from  time  to  time  through  the  gorges  of 
the  mountain ;  and  if  any  there  prayed,  "  from  battle  and  mur- 
der and  from  sudden  death,  good  Lord  deliver  us  !  "  the  words 
must  have  seemed  to  them  exceedingly  appropriate,  and  formed, 
as  it  were,  for  the  occasion.  Jackson  stood  as  usual,  motionless, 
with  bent  head  and  devout  bearing,  while  the  prayers  were  ut- 
tered by  the  chaplain  ;  and  the  reader  may  fancy  his  erect  figure 
either  that  of  some  pious  cavalier,  or  devout  Roundhead,  per- 
forming his  devotions  on  the  field  of  battle. 

This  scene  took  place  on  the  14th  of  May,  and  on  the  same 
day  Jackson  marched  his  troops  back  to  McDowell.  On  the 
next  day  he  crossed  the  Shenandoah  Mountain  and  halted  at  Leb- 
anon Springs,  where  the  army  was  permitted  a  brief  rest  from 
its  fatigues,  and  an  opportunity  was  afforded  them  to  attend  re- 
ligious services,  and  observe  the  day  appointed  by  President 
Davis  as  one  of  fasting  and  prayer.  On  the  17th  the  troops 
were  again  in  motion,  and  Jackson  proceeded  in  the  direction  of 
Harrisonburg. 

General  Banks  had  fallen  back  to  Strasburg,  eighteen  miles 
from  Winchester.  This  sentence  sums  up  the  results  achieved 
by  Jackson,  in  his  advance  against  Milroy.  The  importance  of 
the  success  at  McDowell  could  scarcely  be  estimated  too  highly. 
General  Banks  had  nearly  consummated  his  plans  to  drive  Jack- 
son from  the  valley,  and  was  nearly  in  sight  of  Staunton,  with 
Milroy  approaching  from  the  west,  when,  at  the  moment  of 
greatest  peril  for  the  Confederate  cause,  appeared  suddenly  the 
Deus  ex  machina.  Jackson  advanced  swiftly  upon  Milroy,  and 
struck  a  heavy  blow  at  that  portion  of  the  programme.  He 
then  returned  toward  Harrisonburg  to  assail  his  more  powerful 
adversary  there  ;  but  General  Banks  did  not  await  his  coming 


JACKSON   FLANKS   HIS    ADVERSARY.  137 

He  fell  back  to  Strasburg,  and  even  this  distant  point,  it  will  be 
seen,  was  only  the  "  half-way  house  "  on  his  retreat  to  the  Po- 
tomac. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

JACKSON   FLANKS   HIS   ADVERSARY. 

THE  designs  of  Jackson  now  required  energy,  nerve,  rapidity 
of  movement,  and  all  the  greatest  faculties  of  the  soldier.  Upon 
him  depended,  in  no  small  degree,  the  fate  of  the  campaign  in 
Virginia. 

Events  had  hurried  on.  "While  he  was  marching  and  coun- 
termarching in  the  valley — advancing  to  attack  his  adversary, 
or  retreating  before  him — the  plans  of  the  Federal  Government 
in  other  portions  of  the  field  of  operations  had  been  urged  on 
with  the  most  untiring  energy.  The  great  outline  of  the  Vir- 
ginia campaign,  devised  in  the  closet  at  Washington,  had  been 
translated  into  action,  and  the  Federal  forces  steadily  pressed  on 
toward  Richmond.  McClellan  had  forced  Johnston  to  evacuate 
the  Peninsula,  and  withdraw  his  army  behind  the  Chicka- 
hominy  ;  and  when  Jackson  began  to  move  in  pursuit  of  Banks, 
the  Northern  forces  were  dark  on  the  fields  of  New  Kent.  The 
narrow  and  insignificant  current  of  the  Chickahominy,  at  some 
points  approaching  within  a  few  miles  of  Richmond,  was  all  that 
now  protected  the  front  of  Johnston  from  the  attack  of  156,000 
Federal  troops,  under  the  ablest  general  of  the  United  States 
Army. 

This  was  only  a  portion  of  the  peril.  At  Fredericksburg, 
General  McDowell,  who  had  displayed  such  good  generalship  in 
the  great  flank  movement  at  Manassas,  was  stationed  with  about 
40,000  troops,  and  his  preparations  were  nearly  complete  for  an 
advance  upon  Richmond  from  the  north.  McClellan  only  waited 
for  his  arrival  on  the  Chickahominy,  to  unite  his  right  wing  witb 
McDowell's  left,  when  the  great  assault  on  the  Confederate  capi- 


138  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

tal  would  follow.  With  nearly  200,000  troops  hurled  against  it, 
the  city,  it  was  supposed,  must  be  evacuated  or  destroyed,  and 
the  "  Rebellion  "  terminated. 

To  prevent  this  junction  between  the  forces  of  McDowell 
and  McClellan — to  alarm  President  Lincoln,  and  induce  him  to 
withhold  further  re  enforcements  for  the  defence  of  his  capital- 
such  was  now  the  design  of  Jackson.  If  he  could  drive  General 
Banks  before  him  across  the  Potomac,  he  would  accomplish  this  ; 
for  the  Federal  authorities  could  not  be  at  all  sure  that,  in 
such  an  event,  he  would  not  cross  into  Maryland,  and,  taking 
advantage  of  the  absence  of  McClellan's  army,  advance  to  the 
assault  of  Washington. 

The  Federal  authorities  seem  to  have  realized  their  danger. 
President  Lincoln's  despatches  teem  with  allusions  to  the  sus- 
pected designs  of  the  Confederate  commander.  On  the  17th  of 
May,  when,  having  defeated  Milroy,  Jackson  commenced  his 
march  upon  Harrisonburg,  Lincoln  writes  to  General  McClellan  : 

"  In  order,  therefore,  to  increase  the  strength  of  the  attack 
Upon  Richmond,  at  the  earliest  moment,  General  McDowell  has 
been  ordered  to  march  upon  that  city  by  the  shortest  route. 
He  is  ordered — keeping  himself  always  in  a  position  to  cover  the 
Capital  from  all  possible  attack — so  to  operate  as  to  put  his  left 
wing  in  communication  with  your  right.  *  *  *  * 
The  specific  task  assigned  to  his  command,  has  been  to  provide 
•against  any  danger  to  the  Capital  of  the  nation.  At  your  earliest 
call  for  reinforcements  he  is  sent  forward  to  cooperate  in  the  re- 
duction of  Richmond,  but  charged,  in  attempting  this,  not  to  un- 
cover the  City  of  Washington;  and  you  will  give  no  orders,  either 
•before  or  after  your  junction,  which  can  put  him  out  of  position 
'to  cover  this  city." 

On  the  21st  of  May,  Lincoln  writes  to  McDowell,  at  Fred- 
<ericksburg : 

"  General  Fremont  has  been  ordered  by  telegraph  to  move 
from  Franklin  on  Harrisonburg,  to  relieve  General  Banks,  and 
-capture  or  destroy  Jackson's  or  Ewell's  forces.  You  are  instruct- 
ed, laying  aside  for  the  present  the  movement  on  Richmond,  to  put 


JACKSON   FLANKS    HIS   ADVERSARY.  1391 

twenty  thousand  men  in  motion  at  once  for  the  Shenandoah> 
moving  on  the  line  or  in  the  advance  of  the  Manassas  Gap 
Railroad.  Your  object  will  be  to  capture  the  forces  of  Jackson 
and  Ewell,  either  in  cooperation  with  General  Fremont,  or  in  case 
a  want  of  supplies  or  transportation  interferes  with  his  move- 
ment, it  is  believed  that  the  force  with  which  you  move  will  be 
sufficient  to  accomplish  the  object  alone.  The  information  thus 
received  here  makes  it  probable  that,  if  the  enemy  operate- 
actively  against  Banks,  you  will  not  be  able  to  count  upon  much 
assistance  from  him,  but  may  even  have  to  release  him.  Re-« 
ports  received  this  moment  are  that  Banks  is  fighting  with  Ewell 
eight  miles  from  Winchester." 

General  McDowell  replies,  on  May  24th  : 

"  The  President's  order  has  been  received — is  in  process  of 
execution.  This  is  a  crushing  blow  to  us,"  He  adds,  on  the 
same  day :  "  I  beg  to  say  that  cooperation  between  Fremont 
and  myself,  to  cut  off  Jackson  or  Ewell,  is  not  to  be  counted 
upon,  even  if  it  is  not  a  practical  impossibility.  Next,  that  I 
am  entirely  beyond  helping  distance  of  General  Banks,  and  no 
celerity  or  vigor  will  avail,  so  far  as  he  is  concerned.  Next, 
that  by  a  glance  at  the  map,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  line  of  re- 
treat of  the  enemy's  forces  up  the  valley  is  shorter  than  mine 
to  go  against  him.  It  will  take  a  week  or  ten  days  for  my  force 
to  go  to  the  valley  by  this  route,  which  will  give  it  good  forage, 
and  by  that  time  the  enemy  will  have  retreated.  I  shall  gain 
nothing  for  you  there,  and  shall  gain  much  for  you  here.  It  is, 
therefore,  not  only  on  personal  grounds  that  I  have  a  heavy 
heart  in  the  matter,  but  that  I  feel  it  throws  us  all  back,  and 
from  Richmond,  north,  we  shall  have  all  our  large  masses 
paralyzed,  and  shall  have  to  repeat  what  we  have  just  accom- 
plished. I  have  ordered  General  Shields  to  commence  a  move- 
ment by  to-morrow  morning.  A  second  division  will  follow  in 
the  afternoon." 

Such  was  the  position  of  the  pieces  on  the  great  chessboard, 
of  war  toward  the  end  of  May.  General  McClellan  threatening 
General  Johnston  at  Richmond,  but  incessantly  calling  for  reeu-- 


140  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

forcements,  without  which  he  declared  himself  unable  to  move 
forward  ;  President  Lincoln  in  Washington,  telegraphing  General 
McDowell  at  Fredericksburg  to  stop  his  advance  toward  Rich- 
mond, and  send  20,000  men  to  the  valley,  to  protect  the  Federal 
capital  by  destroying  the  command  of  Jackson  ;  General  McDow- 
ell replying  that  to  "  cut  of  Jackson  is  a  practical  impossibility  :  " 
the  Federal  campaign  embarrassed  and  everywhere  halting  in  con- 
sequence of  Jackson's  daring  and  aggressive  movements.  The 
complicated  movements  of  Generals  McClellan,  Banks,  McDow- 
ell, Shields,  Milroy,  and  Fremont  were  enough  to  puzzle  the 
brain  of  the  most  thorough  master  of  the  art  of  war. 

They  do  not  seem  to  have  disquieted  or  embarrassed  Jackson, 
who  saw  his  work  plain  before  his  eyes — to  divert  reenforce- 
ments  from  McClellan  ;  and  he  advanced  to  the  accomplishment 
of  this  object  with  the  accuracy  of  a  machine  set  in  motion. 

About  the  20th  of  May  he  had  arrived  at  Newmarket,  where  a 
junction  was  formed  between  his  own  troops  and  those  of  Ewell, 
who  had  marched  from  Elk  Run  Valley  to  meet  him  ;  and  from  this 
point  bis  campaign  against  General  Banks  commenced.  The  Fed- 
eral commander  had  reached  Strasburg,  and  was  fortifying  there. 
To  assail  him  in  front  would  be  just  what  he  expected,  and  the  spe- 
cies of  attack  against  which  he  had  provided  ;  so  to  assault  him 
on  his  flank,  where  he  did  not  expect  it,  was  the  obvious  policy  of 
Jackson.  A  glance  at  the  map  of  Virginia  will  be  necessary  to 
the  right  appreciation  of  the  forward  and  retrograde  movements 
of  the  Confederate  forces,  which  were  now  to  make  the  region  fa- 
mous. The  village  of  Newmarket  is  situated  on  the  valley  turn- 
pike in  the  county  of  Shenandoah,  nearly  forty  miles  from  Stras- 
burg. From  this  latter  place  to  a  point  somewhat  higher  up 
than  Newmarket  runs  the  Massinutton  Mountain,  parallel  to  the 
Blue  Ridge,  which  is  separated  from  it  by  a  narrow  vallej 
through  which  flows  the  south  branch  of  the  Shenandoah 
Travelling  north  from  Harrisonburg,  and  turning  to  the  right  al 
Newmarket,  you  pass  the  Massinutton  at  Newmarket  Gap, 
reach  Luray,  in  Page  County,  and  thence  approach  Front  Royal 
by  a  road  along  the  narrow  valley  in  question.  Once  arrived 


JACKSON   FLANKS    HIS    ADVERSARY.  141 

at  the  town  of  Front  Royal,  you  have  reached  the  northern 
terminus  of  the  Massinutton  Mountain,  and  are  directly  on  the 
flank  of  Strasburg. 

Leaving  a  small  force  of  cavalry  to  hold  the  turnpike  and 
conceal  the  movement  of  the  main  body,  Jackson  directed  that 
every  thing,  even  the  knapsacks  of  the  men,  should  be  left  behind, 
and  set  out  by  the  route  above  indicated — his  force  amounting  to 
18,000  or  20,000  men.  On  the  night  of  the  22d,  his  advance,  under 
Ewell,  bivouacked  within  ten  miles  of  Front  Royal.  With  such 
secrecy  and  celerity  had  the  march  upon  Front  Royal  been 
made,  that  the  army  was  nearly  in  sight  of  that  place  before  a 
single  inhabitant  of  the  region  suspected  its  presence.  At  dawn 
on  the  morning  of  Friday  the  23d,  Jackson  resumed  his  rapid 
march,  and,  diverging  to  the  right  by  a  steep  and  rough  by- 
path so  as  to  strike  across  into  the  Gooney  Manor  road,  came 
in  view  of  the  town  about  two  in  the  afternoon.  At  this  point — 
not  more  than  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  place — he  encountered 
the  enemy's  pickets,  and  drove  them  in  ;  when  an  instant  advance 
was  ordered  upon  the  town.  The  troops  responded  with  cheers, 
and  the  1st  Maryland,  under  Colonel  Johnson,  rushed  forward 
and  encountered  their  namesakes,  the  1st  (Federal)  Maryland, 
Colonel  Kenley,  whom  they  saluted  with  a  volley  and  then 
charged  impetuously,  forcing  them  to  fall  back  in  confusion. 

The  cavalry,  sweeping  down  at  the  moment  when  they  broke, 
took  a  large  number  of  prisoners  ;  and  Taylor's  brigade,  the  re- 
serve of  the  advance  force,  coming  rapidly  up,  the  rout  of  the 
Federal  forces  was  complete,  and  the  town  was  in  the  possession 
of  the  Confederates.  The  attack  had  taken  the  Federal  force? 
completely  by  surprise.  "  When  our  guns  opened  on  the  enemy 
they  had  no  idea  who  was  hammering  at  them,"  says  a  contem- 
porary letter.  "  Thinking  that  Jackson  was  a  hundred  miles 
away  from  them,  they  were  completely  surprised  and  panic- 
stricken  by  the  suddenness  of  the  attack  ;  they  surrendered  to  us 
by  hundreds,  allowing  all  their  stores  of  every  sort,  and  in  the 
greatest  quantities,  to  be  captured,  without  an  effort  to  defend 
or  destroy  them."  Among  the  stores  thus  captured  were  about 


142  LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

five  hundred  excellent  revolvers ;  and  a  soldier  expresses  the 
joy  which  all  felt  at  finding  a  wagon  load  of  coffee,  which  was  a 
"  perfect  God-send,"  as  their  rations  of  that  article  had  been 
stopped  for  some  days.  The  appearance  of  the  Confederates 
was  joyfully  hailed  by  the  inhabitants.  Men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren ran  through  the  streets,  laughing  and  cheering.  Every 
house  was  thrown  open,  and  every  window  waved  with  hand- 
kerchiefs. But  the  men  were  not  permitted  to  stop  and  accept 
the  hospitalities  of  the  inhabitants.  They  were  rushed  through 
the  town  at  a  double-quick,  and  a  strong  force  thrown  forward 
toward  a  commanding  height  on  the  right  of  the  turnpike,  where 
the  Federal  forces  had  taken  position  with  the  apparent  intention 
of  resisting  the  Confederate  advance.  As  the  latter  approached 
they  were  met  by  a  fire  of  rifled  artillery  ;  but  Colonel  Crutchfield, 
Jackson's  chief  of  artillery,  placed  some  pieces  in  position  ;  the 
6th  Louisiana  was  moved  through  the  woods  to  flank  their  bat- 
tery, and  Wheat's  Battalion  and  the  1st  Maryland  regiment 
drove  in  their  skirmishers  in  front.  Thus  threatened  on  their 
flank  and  pressed  down  the  turnpike,  the  Federal  force  retreated 
across  both  forks  of  the  Shenandoah,  closely  followed  by  the 
Confederates.  They  attempted  to  burn  the  bridge  over  the 
north  fork  of  the  river,  but  before  they  could  do  so  the  Confed- 
erates arrived.  The  flames  were  extinguished,  and,  pushing 
after  the  Federal  forces  at  full  speed,  the  Confederates  poured 
into  them  a  hot  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery. 

During  this  scene  the  Confederate  cavalry  had  moved  to  in- 
tercept the  enemy's  retreat.  A  force  under  Ashby  and  Flournoj 
had,  before  the  assault  on  the  town,  crossed  the  south  branch  of 
the  Shenandoah  above  Front  Koyal,  and  struck  across  toward 
the  northern  shoulder  of  the  Massinutton,  to  get  between  this 
body  of  the  enemy  and  their  main  force  at  Strasburg.  Their 
orders  were  to  destroy  the  railroad  and  telegraph  line  between 
the  two  places,  so  that  Jackson's  movement  on  his  flank  might 
be  concealed  from  General  Banks  as  long  as  possible,  and  to  guard 
against  the  advance  of  reinforcements  from  Strasburg,  or  the 
retreat  of  the  enemy  from  Front  Royal.  Having  executed  his 


JACKSON   FLANKS    HIS   ADVERSARY.  14:3 

orders,  Colonel  Flournoy  pushed  back  to  the  bridge  over  the  north 
fork  above  mentioned  ;  but  finding  some  difficulty  in  passing  it 
from  the  partial  destruction  of  the  framework  by  fire,  he  has* 
tened  on  with  four  companies  of  the  6th  Virginia  cavalry,  and 
came  up  with  a  body  of  Federal  troops  near  Cedarville,  five 
miles  from  Front  Royal.  This  force  consisted  of  two  companies 
of  cavalry,  two  pieces  of  artillery,  two  companies  of  Pennsyl- 
vania infantry,  and  the  1st  (Federal)  Maryland  regiment, 
which  had  been  rallied  and  posted  there  to  check  Jackson's 
advance.  A  charge  was  at  once  made  on  them  by  the  four  com- 
panies of  Confederate  cavalry,  Captain  Grimsby  leading  the 
advance,  and  the  whole  force  was  driven  from  the  position  which 
it  held.  They  re-formed  in  an  orchard  on  the  right  of  the  road, 
but  a  second  charge  threw  them  into  confusion,  and  the  whole 
force  surrendered.  Ashby  was  meanwhile  scouting  along  the 
base  of  the  Massinutton,  and  clearing  out  the  country  as  he 
swept  it  with  his  cavalry.  At  Buckton  he  came  upon  a  body  of 
the  enemy,  posted  as  a  guard  at  that  point,  in  a  strong  position, 
and  protected  by  the  embankment  of  the  railroad.  Ashby 
charged  and  dispersed  them,  gaining  possession  of  the  place  and 
capturing  a  train  of  cars ;  but  this  insignificant  skirmish  lost 
him  some  of  his  best  officers,  among  them  Captains  Sheets  and 
Fletcher.  Captain  Sheets  was  an  officer  of  conspicuous  gal- 
lantry, greatly  esteemed  by  Jackson  and  beloved  by  the  army. 
At  Kernstown  he  had  seen  a  Confederate  lieutenant  retreating 
alone,  and  hotly  pressed  by  the  enemy.  So  great  was  the  exhaus- 
tion of  the  officer,  that,  coming  to  a  fence,  he  climbed  it  with 
difficulty,  and  rolled  over  upon  the  ground.  It  was  at  this  mo- 
ment that  Captain  Sheets  reached  the  spot ;  and  though  he  had 
with  him  only  a  small  detachment  of  men,  while  the  force  of 
the  enemy's  infantry  was  very  considerable,  he  violently  ex- 
claimed, "  I  will  never  see  a  Southerner  captured  before  my 
eyes,"  and  charged  them,  rescuing  the  officer.  He  had  been 
highly  valued  by  Ashby,  to  whom  he  is  declared  to  have  been 
"  only  second  in  fame  and  efficiency ; "  and  here  he  fell,  shot 
through  the  head. 


144  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

As  night  came  on,  both  the  cavalry  and  infantry  ceased  from 
further  pursuit,  and  the  weary  troops  went  into  camp.  The 
first  day  had  thus  been  decidedly  successful.  A  section  of 
rifled  artillery,  700  prisoners,  among  them  20  officers,  and  large 
quantities  of  public  stores,  had  been  the  result  of  the  opening  of 
the  campaign.  But  the  advantages  secured  did  not  stop  here. 
Jackson  had  turned  General  Banks'  position  at  the  town  of  Stras- 
burg,  and  the  road  was  now  open  for  him  to  press  straight  for- 
ward upon  Winchester.  When  he  had  once  struck  the  line  of 
the  valley  turnpike  he  would  be  completely  in  rear  of  the  Federal 
commander,  and  able  to  intercept  his  retreat. 


CHAPTER  X% 

GENERAL  BANKS  RETREATS. 

ON  the  next  morning,  May  24th,  the  troops  were  moving  at 
daylight,  and  Jackson  hastened  forward  to  the  accomplishment 
of  his  designs,  which  nothing  but  the  exhaustion  of  the  men  had 
prevented  him  from  pursuing  during  the  night. 

The  time  thus  lost,  as  will  be  seen,  was  precious ;  but  the 
delay  could  not  be  avoided.  The  men  had  marched  from  above 
Luray,  a  distance  of  nearly  thirty  miles,  under  a  burning  sun, 
and  many  had  fallen  out  of  the  column  overcome  by  heat  and 
weariness.  These  it  was  necessary  to  collect  before  advancing 
further,  and  the  march  was  delayed  until  morning.  At  the  first 
dawn,  the  column  was  again  in  motion.  General  George  H.  Steu- 
art,  in  temporary  command  of  the  2d  and  6th  Virginia  cavalry 
regiments,  was  sent  northward  to  Newtown,  about  nine  miles 
from  Winchester.  Ewell,  with  Trimble's  brigade,  the  1st 
Maryland  regiment  and  Courtney's  and  Brockenbrough's  bat« 
teries,  was  directed  to  move  on  the  main  Front  Royal  turnpike 
toward  Winchester ;  and  Jackson  proceeded,  in  personal  com- 
mand of  the  main  body  of  the  army,  in  the  direction  of  Middle- 


GENERAL   BANKS   RETREATS.  145 

•town,  with  a  detachment  of  Ashby's  cavalry  moving  on  his  left 
flank  and  keeping  a  close  look-out  for  any  attempt  of  the  enemy 
to  retreat  toward  Front  Royal. 

On  coming  in  sight  of  Middletown,  Jackson  saw  the  turn- 
.pike  from  Strasburg  to  Winchester  black  with  long  columns  of 
Federal  cavalry  in  rapid  retreat.  No  time  was  lost  in  bringing 
up  the  artillery.  The  guns  of  Poague  and  Chew  were  rushed 
•into  position,  supported  by  Taylor's  infantry,  and  a  hot  fire  was 
opened  on  the  retreating  column,  which  at  once  threw  them 
into  confusion.  A  few  additional  rounds  finished  the  work.  The 
cavalry  broke  in  wild  disorder,  scattered  over  the  adjoining 
fields,  and  disappeared  like  phantoms  in  the  woods.  "  The 
turnpike,"  says  Jackson  in  his  report,  "  which  had  just  before 
teemed  with  life,  presented  a  most  appalling  spectacle  of  carnage 
•and  destruction.  The  road  was  literally  obstructed  with  the 
mangled  and  confused  mass  of  struggling  and  dying  horses  and 
riders."  About  200  prisoners  were  captured,  but  the  great  body 
of  the  Federal  cavalry  made  good  their  retreat. 

The  column  had  been  followed  by  a  park  of  artillery  and 
about  three  regiments  of  infantry.  The  former  now  opened  a 
rapid  fire  on  the  Confederates,  and  tried  to  force  a  passage 
through.  But  the  guns  were  effectually  cut  off.  .The  Confed- 
erate batteries  engaged  them,  and  Taylor's  infantry  at  the  same 
moment  advanced,  when  the  Northern  artillery  and  infantry 
retreated  rapidly  upon  Strasburg.  There  the  infantry  aban- 
doned their  knapsacks  and  other  accoutrements,  and,  with  the 
artillery,  retired  precipitately  through  the  western  mountains  to 
the  Potomac. 

It  was  now  obvious  that  General  Banks  had  already  passed 
Middletown  with  his  main  body  in  the  direction  of  Winchester, 
and  the  infantry  which  had  been  halted  was  pushed  forward 
rapidly  in  pursuit.  Ashby  had  already  followed,  with  cavalry, 
artillery,  and  a  supporting  force  of  infantry,  a  long  train  of 
wagons  which  was  seen  disappearing  in  the  distance.  The 
scene  which  followed  is  said  to  have  been  indescribable.  The 
whole  road  was  strewed  with  broken-do wn  wagons,  guns,  knap- 
10 


14:6  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

sacks,  oil-cloths,  cartridge  boxes,  haversacks,  swords,  arms,, 
clothes,  and  accoutrements  of  every  description.  "  The  rush  of 
the  retreat,"  says  a  writer  at  the  time,  "  is  represented  to  have 
been  more  ridiculously  terrible  than  that  at  Manassas."  Ashby 
had  come  up  with  the  trains  and  the  rear  of  the  retreating  Fed- 
erals, and  his  batteries  were  firing  upon  them  all  along  the 
turnpike.  A  shell  or  round  shot  would  strike  one  of  the  wagons 
and  overturn  it,  and  before  those  behind  could  stop  their  head- 
way, they  would  thunder  down  on  the  ruins  of  the  first ;  others 
would  tumble  in,  so  as  to  block  up  the  road  completely ;  and 
in  among  the  disorganized  cavalry  and  infantry  escorting  the 
trains,  trampled  the  horsemen  of  Ashby,  taking  prisoners  or 
cutting  down  such  as  resisted.  There  was  no  discipline  or  order 
in  the  retreat,  and  few  officers  were  visible.  General  Banks  had 
retired  to  Winchester,  whence  he  took  the  cars  for  Harper's 
Ferry.  He  is  said  to  have  been  overwhelmed  with  chagrin  at 
his  misadventure,  and  even  to  have  shed  tears,  declaring  that 
"  he  had  been  sacrificed  by  his  Government." 

Ashby*s  pumiit  Avas  hot,  and  a  remarkable  proof  of  the 
demoralization  of  the  Federal  troops  is  given  by  a  well-accredited 
incident  of  the  retreat.  "  In  the  ardor  of  pursuit,"  writes  a 
gentleman  of  character  and  veracity,  "  Ashby  had  separated 
himself  from  his  men,  and  had  gotten  abreast  of  the  Yankee  col- 
umn of  cavalry  which  was  rushing  down  the  turnpike.  Alone, 
he  charged  500  of  them,  dashed  through  their  line,  firing  his 
pistols  right  and  left  as  he  did  so ;  then  wheeling  about,  he 
again  charged  through  them,  and  summoned  them  to  surrender. 
All  who  heard  his  voice  obeyed,  threw  down  their  arms,  and 
dismounted,  until  some  of  the  men  came  up  and  took  charge  of 
them.  In  one  instance  he  took  thirty  in  this  way."  Ashby 
caught  a  guidon  from  the  hands  of  its  bearer  on  this  occasion, 
and  this  was  afterwards  suspended  in  the  Virginia  Capitol. 
The  incident  above  given  is  not  necessarily  impossible,  nor  even 
improbable.  Troops  retreating  in  disorder  become  entirely  dis- 
heartened, and  lose  the  character  of  soldiers,  despair  inducing 
them  to  surrender  without  resistance. 


GENERAL    BANKS    RETREATS.  147 

The  cavalrymen  of  Ashby' s  command  did  not  imitate  his 
example  in  looking  first  to  the  defeat  of  the  enemy.  Their  mis- 
conduct nearly  prevented  Jackson  from  securing  the  fruits  of  all 
his  marching  and  fighting.  Up  to  this  time  all  opposition  had 
been  borne  down,  and  there  was  every  reason  to  believe  that,  if 
General  Banks  ever  reached  Winchester,  it  would  be  without  a 
train,  if  not  without  an  army.  The  cavalry  and  infantry  under 
Ashby  now  disappointed  all  these  hopes,  and,  in  spite  of  every 
exertion  on  the  part  of  their  commander,  betook  themselves  to 
pillaging  the  Federal  wagons.  In  vain  did  Ashby  attempt  to 
rally  them  to  the  serious  work  before  them,  and  push  on  after 
the  Federal  column,  now  retreating  in  greater  disorder  than  be- 
fore. His  orders  were  not  heard,  or  disobeyed.  The  ranks  of 
the  pursuers  were  scattered,  in  hot  pursuit,  not  of  the  enemy, 
but  of  plunder.  The  choice  contents  of  the  wagons  were  too 
much  for  their  equanimity,  and,  forgetting  their  duty  as  soldiers, 
they  became  thoroughly  disorganized,  and  gave  themselves  up 
to  indiscriminate  pillage. 

The  consequences  of  this  gross  neglect  of  duty  were  soon 
seen :  the  enemy,  who  should  have  been  persistently  followed, 
took  advantage  of  the  respite,  and  turned  savagely  upon  Jack- 
son's artillery,  which  had  pushed  on  ahead,  and  was  now  near 
Newtown,  without  any  species  of  support.  They  brought  up  four 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  planted  them  in  the  outskirts  of  the 
town,  opening  a  furious  fire  upon  the  Confederate  batteries. 
Jackson  hastened  to  the  front,  and  when  he  arrived  at  Newtown, 
found  Poague  with  two  guns  engaged  in  a  hot  combat  with  the 
Federal  artillery,  which  continued  to  check  his  further  advance 
until  dark. 

This  conduct  of  his  advance  force  profoundly  enraged  Jack- 
son, and  many  hot  words  grew  out  of  it  afterwards.  He  was 
much  displeased  with  Ashby,  whose  fault  as  a  soldier  was  too 
great  a  relaxation  of  the  reins  of  discipline  in  his  command ;  and 
as  that  officer  felt  that  he  had  made  every  exertion  to  correct 
the  evil,  he  resented  this  imputation  on  the  part  of  his  command, 
and  for  a  time  there  was  a  marked  coldness  between  himself 


148  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

and  Jackson.  Proud  and  sensitive  to  any  reflection  upon  him- 
self or  his  troops,  Ashby  held  himself  aloof  from  Jackson,  like 
Achilles  in  his  tent ;  and  the  stern  Agamemnon,  knowing  that  he 
had  done  right,  made  no  overtures  for  a  renewal  of  amicable  re- 
lations. But  this  did  not  last,  the  cloud  soon  passed  away,  and 
when  Ashby  fell,  Jackson  wrote  a  noble  epitaph  for  the  fallen 
soldier,  which  would  be  sufficient,  if  nothing  else  remained,  to 
hand  down  his  name  to  posterity. 

At  nightfall,  the  Federal  artillery,  which  had  held  the  Con- 
federate advance  in  check  at  Newtown,  retired  from  the  field ; 
and  Jackson  determined  to  push  on  after  General  Banks  to  Win- 
chester. The  troops  accordingly  passed  through  Newtown, 

and  continued  their  march the  way  "  illumined  by  burning 

wagons,  pontoon  boats,  and  other  stores."  The  scene  in  the 
little  village  of  Newtown  was  inspiring,  and  communicated  a 
new  impulse  to  the  troops.  "  It  beggared  description,"  writes 
an  officer  who  witnessed  it.  "  Every  house  was  illuminated  by 
the  inhabitants,  women  and  even  men  weeping  for  joy,  and 
cheering  us  till  they  were  hoarse.  They  seemed  ready  to  em- 
brace every  soldier  ;  and  so  it  was  all  along  the  road,  bringing 
to  them  and  forcing  on  the  half-starved  fellows,  as  they  swept  by 
in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  pies,  bread,  pickles,  meat,  and  every 
thing  they  could  raise."  The  inhabitants  were  indeed  crazy 
with  joy  at  the  sight  of  the  gray  uniforms  of  their  own  people. 

Beyond  Newtown,  the  spectacle  along  the  roads  was  even 
more  striking  than  that  presented  near  Middletown.  Hundreds 
of  abandoned,  overturned,  or  burning  wagons,  filled  with  stores 
of  every  description,  were  encountered  by  the  troops,  and  excited 
their  longing  as  they  pressed  rapidly  on.  But  no  benefit  could 
be  derived  from  these  spoils  of  the  enemy,  as  the  delay  produced 
by  the  pillage  had  made  it  necessary  to  push  on,  and  stop  for 
nothing. 

At  various  stages  of  their  march  throughout  the  long  nightr 
the  Federal  forces  made  vain  attempts  to  check  their  further 
progress.  Soon  after  leaving  Newtown,  the  advance  was  fired 
on  by  a  concealed  force,  but  the  33d  Virginia,  Colonel  Neff, 


WINCHESTER.  149 

soon  dispersed  them.  Near  the  old  battle-ground  of  Kernstown, 
a  more  serious  attempt  was  made  to  check  Jackson's  advance. 
As  the  troops  approached  that  point,  a  sudden  fire  on  their  right, 
left,  and  front  at  the  same  moment,  revealed  an  ambuscade  of 
importance  ;  and  three  regiments  of  the  Stonewall  Brigade  were 
thrown  forward  to  engage  the  enemy.  They  attacked  with 
great  gallantry,  and  heavy  firing  continued  for  some  time,  but 
the  enemy,  growing  disheartened,  finally  retired,  and  the  army 
resumed  its  march.  The  Federal  forces  continued  to  ambuscade 
thus  from  point  to  point  during  the  remainder  of  the  night,  but 
were  regularly  repulsed  by  the  force  in  advance,  and  the  army 
now  drew  near  Winchester.  The  main  body  was  halted  for 
about  an  hour  to  rest,  but  the  advance  force  still  pressed  on, 
Jackson's  design  being  to  occupy  the  heights  commanding  the 
town,  before  daylight  warned  the  enemy  of  his  presence. 

As  he  advanced,  about  dawn,  toward  the  coveted  position, 
he  received  the  welcome  announcement  that  Ewell,  pushing  on 
from  Newtown,  had  reached,  early  in  the  night,  a  position  about 
three  miles  from  the  town,  on  his  right,  and  had  thrown  forward 
pickets  a  mile  in  advance. 

The  plans  of  the  Confederate  commander  were  thus  fairly  in 
progress  of  fulfilment,  and  he  instantly  made  his  dispositions  to 
attack  the  enemy. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

WINCHESTER. 

JACKSON'S  advance  force  approached  the  lofty  hill,  on  the 
southwestern  side  of  "Winchester,  soon  after  daylight,  on  the 
morning  of  the  25th  of  May. 

This  position  was  -occupied  by  the  Federal  skirmishers  in 
force,  and  General  Winder  was  directed  to  take  the  Stonewall 
Brigade,  and  seize  upon  the  heights  as  soon  as  possible.  This 
was  promptly  done.  The  5th  Virginia  was  thrown  forward  in 


150  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

advance  as  skirmishers,  and  the  remainder  of  the  brigade  hav- 
ing been  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  a  sudden  rush  was  made  for 
the  hill.  The  enemy  made  a  sharp  and  resolute  reaistance, 
firing  heavy  volleys  as  the  Confederates  charged  toward  their 
position,  but  the  spirit  of  the  Federal  troops  no  longer  responded 
to  the  call.  They  recoiled  before  the  Confederate  fire,  retreated 
from  their  position,  and  the  Southern  troops,  uttering  loud 
cheers,  gained  the  crest  and  were  in  possession  of  the  hill. 

Prompt  measures  were  taken  to  improve  this  advantage,  and 
open  the  attack  with  an  energy  which  should  give  the  Federal 
forces  no  time  to  prepare.  They  had  hastily  opened  with  a  bat- 
tery directly  in  front,  and  to  dislodge  these  guns  Carpenter's  and 
Cutshaw's  batteries,  with  two  Parrott  guns  from  the  Rockbridge 
artillery,  were  rapidly  placed  in  position  and  opened  fire. 

The  battle  speedily  commenced  in  good  earnest.  It  was  ab- 
solutely necessary,  if  the  Federal  forces  expected  to  hold  the 
town  of  Winchester,  that  the  Confederates  should  be  dislodged 
from  their  commanding  position  ;  and  a  body  of  Federal  sharp- 
shooters was  promptly  thrown  forward  to  feel  Jackson's  left, 
and  drive  him,  if  possible,  from  the  hill.  At  the  same  moment 
another  Federal  battery  began  to  thunder  on  the  left,  and  a  dan- 
gerous enfilade  fire  was  poured  on  the  Southern  lines. 

This  advance  of  infantry,  and  the  fire  of  the  new  battery, 
was  promptly  responded  to  by  Jackson.  The  battery  in  his 
front  had  been  reduced  to  silence,  and  his  guns  were  now  turned 
on  the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  who  hastily  retreated  behind  a 
heavy  stone  fence,  which  protected  them.  From  this  excellent 
position  they  opened  a  galling  and  destructive  fire  on  the  can- 
noneers and  horses  attached  to  the  Confederate  batteries,  which 
were  now  engaged  hotly  on  the  left.  The  combined  fire  of  their 
sharpshooters  and  artillery  was  so  heavy  that  Captain  Poague, 
who  was  most  exposed  to  the  enemy,  was  compelled  to  change 
position,  in  the  midst  of  a  storm  of  balls.  He  rapidly  withdrew 
bis  guns  ;  moved  to  the  left  and  rear,  and  again  taking  position, 
poured  a  determined  fire  upon  the  enfilading  batteries  of  the  en- 
emy. The  Federal  sharpshooters  continued  to  fire  from  their 


WINCHESTER.  151 

position  behind  the  stone  wall  mentioned,  with  a  precision  which 
was  galling  and  dangerous  in  the  extreme.  No  one  could  mount 
to  the  crest  of  the  hill  without  hearing  the  sudden  report  of 
their  excellent  long-range  guns,  succeeded  by  the  whistling ,  of 
balls  near  his  person.  Colonel  Campbell,  commanding  the  2d 
brigade  of  Jackson's  division,  went  up  to  the  summit  to  recon- 
noitre, and  was  giving  some  directions  to  Colonel  Patton,  the 
senior  officer  under  him,  when  a  ball  pierced  his  arm  and  breast, 
and  he  was  borne  from  the  field,  surrendering  the  command  of 
the  brigade  to  Colonel  Patton.  To  drive  out  these  persistent 
and  accurate  marksmen,  Captain  Poague  threw  several  solid 
shot  at  the  wall  which  protected  them  ;  but  in  spite  of  the  mis- 
siles and  crashing  stones  around  them,  the  line  of  sharpshooters 
still  gallantly  held  their  position. 

While  this  hot  fire  was  going  on,  the  Federal  commander 
was  making  his  preparations  to  assail  Jackson's  position  in  force. 
All  was  ready  at  last,  and  suddenly  the  Federal  infantry  was 
seen  moving  in  heavy  columns  to  the  left,  with  the  evident  in- 
tention of  gaining  possession  of  the  ridge  to  the  north  and  west 
of  the  town. 

Meanwhile  Ewell  had  not  been  idle.  As  soon  as  Jackson's 
guns  were  heard  upon  the  left,  he  rapidly  advanced  toward  the 
southeastern  side  of  the  town,  and  became  engaged  with  the 
enemy,  who  were  posted  on  the  hills,  and  in  the  farm-houses 
which  here  dot  the  rolling  landscape.  The  21st  North  Carolina 
and  21st  Georgia  attacked  and  drove  back  the  advance  force  of 
the  enemy,  and  Ewell  pushed  forward  rapidly  ;  but  here,  as  on 
the  left,  one  of  those  obstinate  stone  walls,  which  appears  so 
often  in  the  narratives  of  battles  taking  place  in  the  Valley  re- 
gion, opposed  its  bristling  front  to  his  further  progress.  The 
Federal  sharpshooters  lined  it,  and,  resting  their  guns  on  the  top, 
poured  into  the  ranks  of  the  21st  North  Carolina,  which  was  in 
advance,  so  destructive  a  fire  that  this  regiment  was  forced  to 
fall  back  with  heavy  loss.  This  success  was,  however,  brief. 
Taking  the  place  of  the  repulsed  regiment,  the  21st  Georgia 
made  a  determined  charge  ;  the  enemy  were  driven  from  their 


152  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

cover ;  and  the  main  body  of  Ewell's  forces,  which  had  been 
arrested  by  this  obstacle,  swept  forward  amid  the  thunder  of 
artillery  to  the  assault. 

On  the  left  of  Jackson's  immediate  position  a  similar  ad- 
vance was  made,  as  we  have  seen,  at  the  moment  when  his  lines 
were  pushed  forward  on  the  right.  To  defeat  the  enemy's  at- 
tempt to  gain  possession  of  the  hill  west  of  the  town,  Jackson  or- 
dered General  Taylor  to  advance  with  his  brigade — move  in  rear 
of  the  Stonewall  Brigade — and  making  a  circuit  far  round  to 
the  left,  ascend  the  northern  hill,  and  thus  confront  the  enemy's 
line  as  it  appeared.  The  movement  was  promptly  made,  and 
the  foot  of  the  hill  reached  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  fire  of  mus- 
ketry and  artillery,  which  the  Federal  batteries  already  men- 
tioned, and  the  sharpshooters  behind  the  stone  wall,  poured  into 
the  Confederate  ranks,  as  they  took  position.  No  attention  was 
paid  to  this  fire  by  Taylor.  He  formed  his  line  of  battle,  with 
the  10th  Virginia  on  his  left,  and  the  23d  on  his  right,  and  im- 
mediately gave  the  order  for  the  troops  to  advance  rapidly  and 
gain  possession  of  the  hill.  The  men  responded  with  cheers,  and 
moved  forward  steadily  up  the  slope,  reaching  the  summit  without 
resistance,  and  confronting  the  columns  drawn  up  to  receive  them. 

The  Federal  forces  were  thus  caught  in  the  grasp  of  Jack- 
son, pressing  upon  both  their  flanks.  The  great  leader  "  had 
his  war-look  on,"  declares  a  soldier,  "  and  rode  about  the  battle- 
field regardless  of  shot  and  shell,  looking  as  if  nothing  was 
going  on."  The  moment  was  enough  to  rouse  him,  and  send  a 
thrill  through  the  pulses  of  any  but  a  man  of  iron.  Ewell  was 
driving  them  on  the  right,  and  doing  great  execution  with  his 
musketry  and  artillery,  whose  traces  may  yet  be  seen  on  the 
houses  and  fences ;  and  now  Taylor  was  ready  to  fall  on  their 
main  body  on  the  left.  The  attack  Avas  not  delayed.  Jackson's 
lines  swept  down  the  hill,  and  across  the  intervening  field,  and 
came  into  collision  with  the  enemy.  The  volleys  of  musketry 
were  succeeded  by  the  thunder  of  triumphant  cheers  rising  above 
the  roar  of  the  artillery ;  and  driving  the  Federal  line  before 
them,  Taylor's  men,  reenforced  by  the  Stonewall  Brigade,  burst 


WINCHESTER. 

suddenly  like  a  torrent  into  the  town.  At  the  same  moment 
Ewell  closed  in  on  the  right.  General  Elzey,  who  had  been  in 
reserve  on  the  turnpike,  advanced  in  front ;  and  the  whole  Fed- 
eral array  gave  way  in  disorder,  and  rapidly  retreated. 

The  scene  which  ensued  in  the  streets  of  Winchester  is  al- 
most beyond  the  power  of  words.  Men,  women,  and  children 
thronged  in  crowds  from  the  houses,  and  uttered  cries  of  wild 
joy  at  the  sight  of  the  gray  uniforms.  The  women  were  before 
the  men  in  this  ovation.  All  personal  danger  was  lost  sight  of 
.in  their  excitement.  As  the  Federal  forces  rushed  tumultuously 
through  the  town,  the  ladies  swarmed  into  the  streets,  and  paid 
no  attention  to  the  shell  and  musket-balls  bursting  and  whistling 
around  them.  They  hastened  to  every  Southern  soldier  who 
had  been  wounded  and  needed  their  services  ;  and  a  gentleman 
of  the  highest  veracity  declares  that  guards  had  to  advance  and 
clear  the  way  for  the  platoons  to  deliver  their  fire  on  the  enemy. 
Winchester  was  indeed  wild  with  delight.  Confederate  flags 
and  white  handkerchiefs  waved  from  every  window ;  brighf 
smiles  saluted  the  troops  on  every  side ;  and  men,  women,  and 
children  were  heard  shouting  "  Thank  God,  we  are  free  !  Thank 
God,  we  are  free  once  more  !  "  The  whole  town  was  one  great 
scene  of  uproar  and  rejoicing — of  mingled  gray  coats  and  blue — 
of  old  men  and  children — and  the  flitting  forms  of'girls,  boldly 
penetrating  the  crowd  to  a,dminister  to  the  wants  of  the  wounded. 

Jackson  for  the  first  time  in  his  military  career  seemed  mas- 
tered by  excitement.  He  caught  his  faded  cap  from  his  head, 
and  waving  it  in  the  air,  cheered  for  the  first  and  last  time  on 
record.  His  affection  for  the  people  of  Winchester  was  so  great, 
and  his  soldier  pride  so  profoundly  gratified  at  this  triumphant 
return  to  a  place  from  which  he  had  been  compelled  to  retreat, 
that  he  lost  control  of  himself.  The  shouts  of  the  men,  the 
sobs  and  exclamations  of  the  women,  and  the  shrill  cries  of  the 
children,  mingled  in  one  chorus  of  welcome ;  but  they  did  not 
divert  his  attention  from  the  work  before  him.  The  troops  were 
pushed  forward  without  a  moment's  pause,  and  Jackson  rode  far 
in  advance  of  the  column,  in  dangerous  proximity  to  the  enemy. 


154  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

One  of  his  officers  said,  "  Don't  you  think  you  are  exposing 
yourself  to  danger,  General?"  But  his  reply  was,  "Tell  the 
troops  to  press  right  on  to  the  Potomac  ! " 

The  Federal  forces  were  followed  persistently  by  the  infan- 
try, and  the  artillery  kept  up  its  fire  ;  but  they  were  not  pressed 
with  cavalry,  owing  to  the  absence  of  Ashby's  men,  and  the  sin- 
gular impression  of  General  George  H.  Steuart  that  he  was  under 
Ewell  and  not  Jackson.  The  pursuit  was  thus  stopped  for  the 
moment  by  the  exhaustion  of  the  infantry,  who  halted  five  miles 
from  the  town  ;  but  Steuart  coming  up  about  an  hour  afterward, 
and  forming  at  Bunker  Hill  a  junction  with  Ashby,  who  had 
swept  round  to  the  left,  the  Federal  forces  were  followed  hotly 
through  Martinsburg,  and  driven  across  the  Potomac,  with  the 
loss  of  many  prisoners,  and  the  capture  of  immense  stores. 

"It  is  seldom,"  says  General  Banks,  in  his  report,  "  that  a 
river  crossing  of  such  magnitude  is  achieved  with  greater  suc- 
cess, and  there  never  were  more  grateful  hearts  in  the  same 
number  of  men  than  when,  at  mid-day  of  the  26th,  we  stood  on 
the  opposite  shore.  My  command  had  not  suffered  an  attack 
and  rout.  It  had  accomplished  a  premeditated  march  of  nearly 
sixty  miles  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  defeating  his  plans,  and 
giving  him  battle  wherever  he  was  found." 

It  seemed  thus  that  both  the  Federal  and  Confederate  com- 
manders were  well  pleased  with  the  result,  and  congratulated 
themselves  upon  the  issue  of  the  campaign. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE    LION   IN    THE    TOILS. 

JACKSON  had  thus  driven  his  opponent  before  him,  and  re- 
gained possession  of  Winchester ;  but  the  Federal  garrisons  at 
Charlestown  and  Harper's  Ferry  remained,  and  to  these  his 
attention  was  now  directed. 

The  troops,  however,  absolutely  required  rest.     They  had 


THE   LION   EST   THE   TOILS.  155 

made  an  exhausting  march.  From  the  camp  above  Luray  ta 
the  point  where  the  pursuit  had  stopped  was  about  sixty  miles% 
and  this  distance  the  men  had  passed  over  in  three  days,  fighting 
two  battles  on  the  way.  This  was  enough  to  break  down  their 
strength,  and  it  was  necessary  to  give  them  a  resting-spell.  On 
the  following  day,  accordingly,  religious  services  were  held 
throughout  the  army,  and  thanks  returned  for  the  recent  suo 
cesses  of  the  Southern  arms.  The  men  then  rested  for  that 
day  and  the  next.  The  army  was  then  thoroughly  refreshed  and 
ready  for  new  movements,  which  commenced  immediately. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  May,  the  Stonewall  Brigade 
and  the  batteries  of  Poague  and  Carpenter,  the  whole  under 
General  Winder,  left  their  camps  near  Winchester,  and  pro- 
ceeded, by  way  of  Summit  Point,  toward  Charlestown.  When 
they  had  reached  a  point  about  four  miles  from  the  town,  intelli- 
gence was  received  that  the  enemy  occupied  that  place  in  force, 
and  intended  to  dispute  their  further  advance.  This  information 
was  promptly  conveyed  to  Jackson,  who  immediately  sent 
Ewell's  division  to  cooperate  in  the  movement.  But  Winder 
did  not  wait  for  reinforcements.  He  steadily  advanced  in  the 
direction  of  the  town,  and,  emerging  from  the  woods  within  a 
mile  of  the  place,  saw  the  Federal  forces  in  line  of  battle  imme- 
diately in  his  front,  and  apparently  about  fifteen  hundred  in 
number. 

He  decided  to  attack  them,  and  at  once  advanced,  when,  as 
he  made  his  appearance,  they  opened  *upon  him  with  two  pieces 
of  artillery.  Carpenter's  battery  was  placed  in  position,  sup- 
ported by  the  33d  Virginia,  and  returned  the  fire  with  such  vigor 
that,  in  twenty  minutes,  the  Federal  forces  retired  in  disorder, 
throwing  away  their  arms,  blankets,  haversacks,  and  accoutre- 
ments. Winder  followed  them  into  the  town,  and  here  a  scene 
took  place  similar  to  that  which  had  occurred  at  Winchester. 
The  ladies  crowded  the  streets,  waving  their  handkerchiefs,, 
and  exhibiting  a  "  wild  joy,"  says  a  letter  of  the  time,  at  sight 
of  their  friends.  The  2d  Virginia  was  formed  almost  entirely 
of  volunteers  from  Jefferson,  Frederick,  Clarke,  and  Berkeley  i 


156  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON 

and  they  had  not  seen  their  families  for  nearly  a  year.  But  the) 
were  not  suffered  to  stop,  even  to  shake  hands.  Winder  fol- 
lowed the  retreating  enemy  to  the  little  hamlet  of  Halltown, 
firing  into  their  rear  both  with  musketry  and  artillery,  and  then, 
finding  that  they  were  posted  in  force  upon  Bolivar  Heights,  in 
front  of  Harper's  Ferry,  returned  to  the  vicinity  of  Charlestown. 

On  the  following  day,  Jackson  arrived  with  the  main  body 
of  the  army,  and  preparations  were  made  to  attack  and  dislodge 
the  Federal  forces.  His  troops  were  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Halltown,  and  the  2d  Virginia  had  been  sent  across  to  Loudoun 
Heights,  on  the  east  side  of  the  town,  when  intelligence  reached 
him  that  Federal  columns  were  closing  in  upon  his  rear.  Shields 
was  moving  from  Fredericksburg  on  his  right,  and  Fremont  from 
the  south  branch  of  the  Potomac  on  his  left,  with  the  design  of 
concentrating  a  heavy  force  at  Strasburg  and  cutting  off  his  re- 
treat up  the  Valley. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  President  Lincoln,  on  the  21st  of 
May,  had  directed  General  McDowell,  then  commanding  at 
Fredericksburg,  to  "  put  20,000  men  in  motion "  to  capture  or 
destroy  Jackson  and  Ewell,  and  relieve  General  Banks.  These 
forces  were  to  move  on  the  line  of  the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad ; 
.and  the  march  took  place  as  directed.  The  letter  of  a  Northern 
correspondent  gives  an  entertaining  account  of  the  expedition, 
and  we  make  the  following  brief  extract,  in  which  the  writer 
amuses  himself  at  the  expense  of  General  Banks  : 

"  Word  was  flashed  over  the  wires  from  Washington  that 
the  Philistines  were  upon  the  Congressional  Samsons,  and  we 
were  summoned  to  the  rescue.  The  order  from  the  War  De- 
partment, to  send  20,000  or  30,000  men  to  assist  Banks  and 
defend  Washington,  put  an  entirely  new  face  on  matters,  and 
knocked  the  plans  which  a  month  and  more  of  time  and  millions 
of  money  had  been  spent  in  maturing  into  that  peculiarly  chaotic, 
formless,  and  void  shape  popularly  known  and  described  as  a 
cocked  hat.  As  McClellau  before  had  been  served,  so  now  was 
^McDowell. 

"  At  Markham  Station,  besides  rheumatic  pains,  I  encoun- 


THE   LION   IN   THE   TOILS.  157 

tered  Colonel  Ashby's  house,  a  deserted  whitewashed  tenement*, 
with  battered  walls  and  crumbling  staircases,  and  smelling 
strongly  of  secession  and  old  cheese.  At  Front  Royal  we  found 
Major-General  McDowell  and  several  minor  Generals.  They 
were  all  determined  upbn  one  thing — that  thing  to  bag  Jackson, 
and  recapture  the  immense  train  he  took  from  Banks — for  you 
must  know  that  Banks  lost  over  two  millions  of  dollars  in 
property,  and,  it  is  said,  several  thousand  prisoners.  Well, 
then,  it  had  been  determined  to  retake  all  these  national  gods 
and  goods. 

"  A  word  about  Blenker's  division.  With  all  respect  to 
General  Blenker  himself,  whom  I  highly  esteem  as  a  German 
and  a  gentleman,  it  comprises  as  lawless  a  set  as  ever  pillaged 
hen-roosts  or  robbed  dairy-maids  of  milk  and  butter.  I  saw  a 
company  of  them  gutting  the  cellar  of  a  house,  carrying  off  every 
thing  eatable  and  drinkable,  and  only  replying  to  the  earnest  re- 
monstrance of  the  proprietary  widow,  and  the  representation  that 
she  had  seven  children  to  feed,  with  a  guttural  '  Nix  fur  stay.' 
And  two  infantry  captains  bathed  their  yellow  beards  in  the 
golden  cream,  and  were  aiders  and  abettors,  in  fact,  the  over- 
seers and  directors  of  the  larceny,  not  to  say  brutality." 

This  force  was  now  moving  from  the  east,  and  General  Fre- 
mont was  approaching  from  the  west,  to  meet  them  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Strasburg.  The  only  force  which  Jackson  had  near 
that  point  to  meet  them  was  a  single  regiment  and  two  pieces  of 
artillery,  under  Colonel  Connor,  at  Front  Royal ;  and  with  this 
small  body  overwhelmed,  he  would  be  completely  cut  off,  and 
forced  to  surrender  or  fight  his  way  through. 

It  was  necessary  to  act  promptly  in  this  emergency.  The 
whole  effective  force  of  Jackson  was  at  this  time  15,000  men, 
and  the  body  about  to  attack  him  from  the  direction  of  Fred- 
ericksburg  was  probably  larger  than  his  whole  army.  If  Gen- 
eral Fremont  formed  a  junction  with  it,  the  odds  would  be  over- 
powering ;  and  to  reascend  the  Valley  before  his  enemies  combined 
was  the  obvious  policy  of  the  Confederate  commander.  He  is- 
sued orders  for  that  movement  at  once.  All  the  troops,  but  the 


158  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

Stonewall  Brigade  and  the  cavalry,  were  directed  to  return  tir 
Winchester ;  and  these  also,  as  soon  as  the  2d  Virginia  had 
returned  from  Loudoun  Heights,  were  to  rejoin  the  main  body 
at  that  place. 

Having  made  these  arrangements,  Jackson  set  out  in  person 
for  Winchester,  travelling  hy  a  special  train  on  the  Winchester 
and  Potomac  Railroad.  A  gentleman  who  was  with  him  relates 
a  scene  that  ensued  during  the  brief  journey.  At  one  of  the 
wayside  stations,  a  courier  was  seen  galloping  down  from  the 
direction  of  Winchester,  and  Jackson  clutched  at  the  despatch 
which  he  brought. 

"What  news?"  he  asked,  briefly. 

"  Colonel  Connor  is  cut  off  and  captured  at  Front  Royal, 
General." 

"  Good  !  "  was  the  quick  reply  ;  "  what  more?  " 

"  Shields  is  there,  with  four  thousand  men." 

"  Good — very  good  !  " 

As  he  spoke  his  lips  were  firmly  compressed,  his  face  grew 
rigid,  and  his  eyes  fixed  themselves  apparently  upon  some  dis- 
tant object.  Then  this  preoccupation  suddenly  disappeared ;  he 
read  the  despatch  which  he  held  in  his  hand,  tore  it  in  pieces, 
and  dropped  it,  after  his  accustomed  fashion,  and,  leaning  for- 
ward, rested  his  forehead  on  his  hands,  and  immediately  fell 
asleep.  He  soon  roused  himself,  and,  turning  to  the  gentleman 
who  furnishes  these  particulars,  said  : 

"  I  am  going  to  send  you  to  Richmond  for  reinforcements. 
Banks  has  halted  at  Williamsport,  and  is  being  reeuforced  from 
Pennsylvania.  Dix,  you  see,  is  in  my  front,  and  is  being  ree'n- 
forced  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.  I  have  just  received 
a  despatch  informing  me  of  the  advance  of  the  enemy  upon 
Front  Royal,  which  is  captured,  and  Fremont  is  now  advancing 
toward  Wardensville.  Thus,  you  see,  I  am  nearly  surrounded 
by  a  very  large  force. 

"  What  is  your  own,  General?"  asked  his  friend. 

"  I  will  tell  you,  but  you  must  not  repeat  what  I  say,  except  at 
Richmond.  To  meet  this  attack,  I  have  only  15,000  effective  men." 


THE   LION    IN    THE   TOILS.  159 

"  What  will  you  do  if  they  cut  you  off,  General  ?  " 
Jackson  hesitated  for  a  moment,  and  then  coolly  replied : 
"  I  will  fall  back  upon  Maryland  for  reinforcements." 
Jackson  was  in  earnest.  If  his  retreat  was  cut  off,  he  in- 
tended to  advance  into  Maryland,  and  doubtless  make  his  way 
straight  to  Baltimore  and  Washington,  depending  on  the  South- 
ern sentiment  in  that  portion  of  the  State  to  bring  him  ree'nforce- 
ments.  The  design  was  characteristic  of  his  military  genius, 
and  its  bold  air  of  invasion  probably  surrounded  it  with  charms 
to  the  leader,  who  never  lost  sight  of  that  policy.  That  the 
Federal  Government  was  apprehensive  of  some  such  movement 
is  certain.  The  wildest  rumors  were  everywhere  prevalent  in 
that  country.  It  was  said  that  Jackson  had  defeated  all  his  op- 
ponents, had  crossed  the  Potomac  with  an  enormous  army,  and 
was  then  advancing  on  Washington.  Terror  reigned  in  the 
North.  Men  wore  anxious  faces,  and,  it  is  said,  were  asking 
constantly,  "  Where  is  Jackson  ?  "  "  Has  he  taken  Washington  ?  " 
The  best  proof,  however,  that  the  movement  was  really  antici- 
pated, was  the  despatch  of  the  Federal  Secretary  of  War  to  the 
Governor  of  Massachusetts  :  "  Send  all  the  troops  forward  that 
you  can,  immediately.  Banks  completely  routed.  Intelligence 
from  various  quarters  leaves  no  doubt  that  the  enemy,  in  great 
force,  are  advancing  on  Washington.  You  will  please  organize 
and  forward  immediately  all  the  volunteer  and  militia  force  in 
your  State."  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  similar  messages 
were  sent  to  all  the  Northern  States,  and  that  the  alarm  of  the 
Federal  authorities  was  very  great.  « 

We  have  seen  that  the  "  great  force  "  at  Jackson's  command 
was  15,000  men,  and  that  a  much  larger  force  was  about  to 
close  in  upon  his  rear.  His  position  was  critical  in  the  extreme. 
Unless  he  moved  with  the  greatest  speed,  and  reached  Strasburg 
before  the  junction  of  Fremont  and  Shields,  his  retreat  would  be 
cut  off,  and  General  McDowell,  then  at  Front  Royal,  would 
achieve  his  design  of  "  bagging  Jackson."  The  great  stores  at 
Winchester  added  to  his  embarrassment.  The  thought  -of  losing 
the  reward  of  all  the  toil  and  courage  of  his  men  was  iiiexpres- 


160  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

sibly  bitter  to  him.  Loss  of  all  his  stores,  the  capture,  possibly 
the  destruction  of  his  little  army — these  were  the  contingencies 
which  stared  Jackson  in  the  face.  To  defeat  the  designs  of  the 
enemy,  and  extricate  his  forces,  was  the  object  upon  which  he 
now  concentrated  all  his  skill,  nerve,  and  generalship. 

Once  at  Winchester  again,  he  possessed  himself  of  the  very 
latest  information  from  the  rear,  and  made  his  dispositions  with 
rapidity.  The  Federal  columns  were  pressing  rapidly  to  inter- 
cept him.  Colonel  Connor  had  been  attacked,  as  we  have  seen, 
at  Front  Royal,  by  the  Federal  cavalry,  and  driven  from  the 
place  with  the  loss  of  all  his  prisoners,  and  some  men  of  his  own 
command,  but  had  destroyed  all  the  captured  stores,  worth 
$300,000,  before  he  retreated.  Fremont  was  already  at  Ward- 
ensville  ;  no  time  was  to  be  lost. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  May  31st,  Colonel  Cunningham 
left  Winchester  with  the  21st  Virginia,  in  charge  of  about  2,300 
prisoners,  and  the  wagon-train,  and  moved  quickly  up  the  valley. 
The  train  was  twelve  miles  long,  and  was  loaded  with  the  cap- 
tured stores,  which  the  enemy  were  so  anxious  to  regain. 
Jackson  followed  with  the  main  body.  The  evacuation  of  Win- 
chester was  a  heavy  blow  to  him  and  to  the  inhabitants.  We 
have  met  with  no  description  of  the  sorrowful  scene  which  so 
soon  succeeded  the  joyful  ovation  upon  his  entrance.  It  was 
doubtless  affecting,  for  the  whole  heart  of  this  man  was  bound 
up  in  the  old  town,  where  so  many  loved  him,  and  looked  to 
him  for  protection.  His  parting  with  these  faces,  now  filled 
with  anxiety  and  distress,  must  have  been  bitter.  We  only 
know  that  in  brief  words  he  assured  them  that  he  would  "  return 
again  shortly  and  as  certainly  as  now,"  and  that  one  day,  not  long 
afterwards,  when  the  Federal  forces  occupied  the  place,  their  camps 
were  suddenly  thrown  into  tumult,  their  drums  beat  to  arms,  and 
the  words  passed  from  lip  to  lip,  "  Jackson  is  coming !  " 

A  race  now  ensued,  between  Jackson  and  his  adversaries,  for 
the  possession  of  Strasburg.  Every  moment  was  important. 
On  the  speed  of  the  "  foot  cavalry  "  depended  the  safety  of  the 
army ;  and  if  the  larger  portion  marched,  as  they  seem  to  have 


THE   LION   IN   THE   TOILS.  161 

•done,  from  the  vicinity  of  Harper's  Ferry  to  Strasburg,  nearly 
fifty  miles,  between  the  afternoon  of  the  30th  and  the  night  of  the 
51st  of  May,  it  is  one  of  the  swiftest  marches  on  record. 

Jackson  arrived  in  time,  and  just  in  time.  He  encamped  at 
Strasburg  on  the  night  of  the  31st,  with  General  Fremont's  ad- 
vance almost  in  sight.  Winder  had  not  yet  come  up  with  his 
"brigade  and  batteries,  and,  as  it  was  necessary  to  remain  at 
Strasburg  until  he  arrived,  Jackson  determined  to  attack  Fre- 
mont, and  hold  him  in  check.  This  duty  was  assigned  to  Ewell, 
who  advanced  on  the  next  morning  with  his  division,  and,  sup- 
ported by  other  troops,  afterwards  sent  to  him,  made  a  sudden 
and  determined  assault  upon  their  advance  force.  The  enemy 
resisted  obstinately,  but  Ewell  finally  drove  them  back,  and 
Winder  arriving  on  the  same  evening,  the  whole  army  continued 
their  retreat  up  the  Valley. 

Jackson  was  now  comparatively  safe.  He  had  realized  the 
prayer  which  his  great  namesake  of  the  "  Hermitage "  uttered 
for  a  friend — he  had  "  triumphed  over  all  his  enemies."  He  had 
flanked  them  at  Front  Royal,  pursued  them  from  Middletown, 
beaten  them  at  Winchester,  chased  them  to  the  Potomac,  filled 
Washington  with  alarm  ;  and  now,  when  their  forces  were  closing 
in  upon  his  rear  to  intercept  him,  he  had  passed  between  them 
with  his  prisoners  and  stores,  struck  them  heavily  as  he  retired, 
and  was  moving  toward  the  upper  Valley. 

He  had  captured  2,300  prisoners,  100  cattle,  34,000  pounds 
of  bacon,  flour,  salt,  sugar,  coffee,  hard  bread,  and  cheese, 
$125,185  worth  of  quartermasters'  stores,  $25,000  worth  of 
sutlers'  stores,  immense  medical  stores,  9,354  small-arms,  two 
pieces  of  artillery,  many  cavalry  horses  ;  and  700  sick  had  been 
released  on  parole,  making  the  full  number  of  prisoners  more 
than  3,000.  These  results  had  been  achieved  with  a  loss  of  68 
killed,  329  wounded,  and  3  missing — total  loss  400.  In  ending 
his  report,  Jackson  proudly  declared  that  the  battle  of  Winchester 
was,  "  on  our  part,  a  battle  without  a  straggler." 

11 


162  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

OUT      OF      THE      MESHES. 

MAY  had  passed,  June  arrived,  and  the  Federal  authorities 
seemed  as  far  as  ever  from  the  accomplishment  of  their  designs 
against  Richmond. 

General  McClellan's  army  still  swung  to  and  fro  on  either 
side  of  the  Chickahominy,  and  that  commander  was  still  calling  for 
reinforcements.  A  few  days  after  the  battle  of  Winchester,  the 
bloody  but  indecisive  action  of  "  Seven  Pines  "  took  place,  and 
this  seems  to  have  been  regarded  as  the  sure  prelude  to  the  cap- 
ture and  occupation  of  Richmond.  To  that  achievement  all  the 
Federal  movements  were  directed.  McClellan  was  to  press  for- 
ward from  the  east,  McDowell  to  descend  from  Fredericksburg, 
and  Fremont  and  Shields  to  overthrow  Jackson  and  swoop  down 
from  the  mountains.  The  three  columns  would  then  compose  a 
great  cordon,  and  the  Confederate  power  be  crushed. 

Such  was  the  situation  of  affairs  in  the  first  days  of  June. 
Events  were  hastening  on  in  the  Valley  and  the  tidewater ;  the 
great  movements  in  both  regions  were  contemporaneous.  On  the 
first  day  of  June,  at  the  very  time  when  McClellan  and  Johnston 
were  fighting  at  "  Seven  Pines,"  before  Richmond,  Jackson 
passed  between  the  converging  columns  of  his  adversaries, 
struck  their  advance  with  his  right  wing,  and  retired  in  safety. 
At  the  very  moment,  some  days  afterwards,  when  General  Mc- 
Clellan, in  the  summit  of  a  tall  tree,  as  one  of  their  writers  de- 
scribes him,  was  straining  his  eyes  to  discern  the  columns  of 
McDowell  on  the  northern  horizon,  and  listening  for  the  tramp 
of  Fremont's  men  from  the  mountains,  news  was  to  reach  him 
of  events  which  reversed  the  whole  plan  of  his  campaign.  Rich- 
mond was  directly  in  his  front,  with  the  sunshine  on  its  spires  ; 
the  army  described  as  the  "  finest  on  this  planet "  was  beneath 
him,  in  the  trenches  ;  and,  amid  the  treacherous  swamps  of  the 


OUT   OF   THE   MESHES.  163 

Chickahominy,  all  was  ready  for  the  .great  advance,  to  be  co- 
operated in  by  Generals  McDowell,  Shields,  and  Fremont,  when 
this  intelligence  came  to  overthrow  the  whole  programme. 

General  Fremont  had  failed  to  intercept  Jackson  at  Stras- 
burg ;  and  General  McDowell's  column,  under  Shields,  had  met 
with  no  greater  success.  Jackson  had  retired  like  a  weary  lion, 
carrying  off  all  his  spoils  ;  and  the  Federal  commanders  only 
met  at  Strasburg  to  condole  with  each  other  on  the  escape  of 
their  prey.  But  Jackson  was  yet  in  great  danger  from  the 
character  of  the  country  and  the  large  force  which  the  enemy 
had  at  their  disposal.  The  valley  turnpike  runs  along  the  west- 
ern base  of  the  Massinutton  Mountain,  which  completely  pro- 
tects that  road  from  a  flank  movement  from  the  east,  as  high  up 
AS  New  Market.  But  opposite  that  point  was  the  gap  which 
Jackson  had  passed  through  in  advancing.  Proceeding  up  the 
Luray  valley  from  Front  Royal,  a  column  of  the  enemy  might 
cross  the  south  fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  seize  the  gap  in  ques- 
tion, and,  coming  in  on  Jackson's  flank,  assail  his  forces  and 
check  their  further  advance.  At  the  same  time,  the  column 
which  was  following  on  his  rear  would  close  in  and  form  a  junc- 
tion with  the  other  ;  and  he  would  thus  be  compelled  to  fight  the 
entire  Federal  force  in  the  valley,  interposed  between  his  front 
and  the  Blue  Ridge. 

This  movement  by  Luray  was  evidently  the  design  of  the 
enemy.  General  Shields  had  now  been  in  possession  of  Front 
Royal  for  forty-eight  hours,  and,  as  he  had  not  formed  a  junc- 
tion with  Fremont,  as  was  originally  intended,  it  was  obviously 
Ms  purpose  to  make  the  flanking  movement  between  the  Blue 
Ridge  and  the  Massinutton.  To  defeat  this  plan,  Jackson  sent 
forward  a  party  to  destroy  the  White  House  bridge,  over  the 
south  fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  on  the  road  to  the  New  Market 
Gap,  and  also  Columbia  bridge,  some  miles  up  the  river.  A 
signal  station  was  also  established  on  the  southern  summit  of  the 
Massinutton,  to  advise  him  of  movements  in  the  Luray  valley, 
.and  Jackson  then  hastened  forward  toward  New  Market  with  his 
^prisoners  and  captured  stores. 


164  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

General  Fremont's  advance,  which  had  been  hovering  ueai 
the  Southern  army,  in  spite  of  its  repulse  by  Ewell,  soon  ascer- 
tained that  the  Confederates  had  retreated  from  Strasburg,  and 
the  whole  force  of  the  Federal  commander  was  pushed  forward 
in  pursuit.  Night  had  now  descended,  and  a  stratagem  was  at> 
tempted  by  the  enemy,  under  the  cloak  of  darkness,  to  throw  the 
Confederate  rear  guard  into  confusion.  The  Federal  cavalry 
approached  cautiously  ^  and,  being  challenged,  replied,  "Friends — 
Ashby's  cavalry."  This  disarmed  suspicion,  and  enabled  them 
to  come  so  near,  that  their  attack  was  sudden  and  unexpected^ 
The  6th  Virginia  cavalry,  which  was  nearest,  retired  in  disor- 
der before  the  volleys  poured  into  their  ranks,  and  this  confusion 
was  communicated  to  the  2d  Virginia  cavalry,  which  was  next 
to  the  6th.  At  this  critical  moment,  Colonel  Munford,  who 
commanded  the  2d,  acted  with  promptness  and  energy.  He 
re-formed  his  regiment,  charged  the  Federal  cavalry,  and  drove 
them  back,  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners.  The  army  then 
continued  its  march,  without  further  annoyance  that  night. 

Having  snatched  a  brief  rest,  the  troops  moved  again  at  day- 
light, resuming  the  retreat  in  the  direction  of  Woodstock.  The 
enemy  followed  slowly  and  cautiously  on  the  trail,  apparently 
afraid  to  press  too  near  and  encounter  Ashby,  who,  with  hi& 
cavalry,  Caskie's  battery,  and  the  2d  brigade,  under  Colonel 
Patton,  held  the  rear.  Near  Woodstock  another  attack  was 
made  on  the  rear  guard.  The  extreme  rear  was  held  by 
Caskie's  battery,  supported  by  about  two  hundred  men  from 
Patton's  command,  as  sharpshooters.  This  was  regarded  by 
Ashby  as  sufficient  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check ;  and  his  cavalry 
was  quietly  pursuing  its  way,  in  advance  of  the  artillery,  when 
the  enemy's  horsemen  gallantly  charged  through  the  sharpshoot- 
ers on  the  guns,  captured  some  of  the  cannoneers,  and  nearly 
succeeded  in  cutting  off  the  retreat  of  a  rifled  piece.  It  was 
withdrawn,  however,  in  safety,  a  portion  of  the  enemy  rapidly 
following,  and,  before  they  were  aware  of  the  intended  attack 
on  them,  the  Confederate  cavalry  was  thrown  into  disorder. 
The  men  retreated  in  confusion,  and  ran  into  the  rear  of  the 


OUT    OF    THE    MESHES.  165 

48th  Virginia — then  passing  along  a  narrow  causeway  with  a 
ravine  on  one  side  and  a  steep  embankment  on  the  other — and, 
so  sudden  was  the  appearance  of  the  disorganized  cavalry  in  the 
midst  of  the  infantry,  that  a  number  of  the  men  were  knocked 
down  before  they  could  get  out  of  the  way.  All  was  now  con- 
fusion ;  but  the  cavalry  rallied — the  42d  Virginia  was  hastily 
moved  to  the  right  of  the  road  and  the  48th  to  the  left — and  the 
enemy  were  received  with  a  sudden  volley  which  drove  them 
back  with  loss.  Three  Federal  cavalrymen  had  charged  through 
the  whole  length  of  the  2d  brigade,  two  of  whom  were  shot  and 
fell  between  the  regiments  posted  on  the  roadside,  the  other  es- 
caping. 

This  affair  annoyed  Jackson  extremely,  the  force  of  Federal 
cavalry  which  made  the  charge  having  been  very  small,  and  on 
the  next  day  he  asked  Colonel  Patton  to  give  him  the  details. 
That  officer  did  so,  and  declared  that  he  regarded  it  as  the  most 
dashing  and  gallant  thing  which  the  enemy's  cavalry  had  yet  done 
— adding,  that  if  he  had  been  able,  he  would  have  prevented  the 
troops  from  firing  upon  the  three  men  who  charged  through  the 
brigade.  Jackson  took  no  notice  of  these  words  at  the  moment, 
but  in  a  few  minutes  returned  to  the  subject  in  a  manner  which 
indicated  that  this  daring  onslaught  on  his  rear  guard  by  so  small 
a  force  had  greatly  exasperated  him.  "  Why  would  you  not 
have  shot  those  men,  Colonel? "he  asked,  curtly.  "I  should 
have  spared  them,  General,"  returned  the  officer,  "  because  they 
were  brave  men  who  had  gotten  into  a  desperate  situation  where 
it  was  as  easy  to  capture  them  as  to  kill  them."  Jackson's  reply 
was  brief.  "  Shoot  them  all,"  he  said,  coldly  ;  "  I  don't  want 
them  to  be  brave." 

After  this  repulse,  the  army  continued  its  march,  Ashby 
having  been  put  in  command  of  the  whole  rear  guard,  cavalry 
and  infantry,  with  orders  to  protect  the  rear  during  the  remain 
der  of  the  retreat.  The  energy  of  this  commander  was  untiring, 
and,  in  spite  of  incessant  and  determined  assaults  on  him,  he  re- 
pulsed every  advance  of  the  Federal  cavalry  throughout  the 
march.  The  retreat  Avas  one  Ions  battle  between  the  Confed- 


166  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

erate  rear  and  the  Federal  vanguard.  They  were  pressing  hotly 
to  strike  Jackson  and  delay  him  until  General  Shields  reached 
New  Market  to  intercept  his  retreat,  and  no  efforts  were  spared 
to  break  through  the  obstinate  impediment  which  Ashby  pre- 
sented, and  force  Jackson  to  turn  and  defend  himself.  Shields' 
column  was  pressing  forward  through  the  Luray  valley  ;  if  the 
Confederate  commander  could  only  be  delayed  for  a  day,  nay  a 
few  hours,  his  fate  would  be  sealed. 

Jackson  fully  appreciated,  however,  the  critical  character  of 
his  situation,  and  did  not  relax  the  rapidity  of  his  retreat.  His 
column  pressed  on  along  the  bank  of  the  Shenandoah,  pushing 
the  heavy  trains  and  long  lines  of  prisoners  before  it,  and  Ashby 
continued  to  hold  the  rear,  repulsing  successfully  every  assault. 
His  artillery  was  never  silent,  and  at  times  the  troops  in  front 
Avould  hear  the  sudden  rattle  of  small-arms,  indicating  that  he 
had  ambushed  the  advancing  squadrons,  and  from  the  woods 
on  the  roadside  poured  a  fire  into  their  ranks  when  it  was  least 
expected. 

The  Federal  forces  were  thus  successfully  held  in  check. 
Mount  Jackson  was  passed  ;  the  bridge  over  the  Shenandoah,  a 
locality  well  known  to  Ashby,  was  destroyed  by  him  in  rear  of 
the  army  ;  and  Jackson  was  safe  from  the  column  in  his  rear. 
A  short  march  now  promised  to  terminate  the  retreat.  Jackson 
pushed  on  through  New  Market,  and  finding  at  Harrisonburg, 
which  he  reached  on  the  5th,  that  all  the  bridges  above  that 
point  were  destroyed  by  the  citizens,  turned  to  the  left  and  fol- 
lowed a  country  road  in  the  direction  of  Port  Republic,  beyond 
which  Brown's  Gap  opened  the»  straight  path  to  Richmond. 

The  fluttering  signals  on  the  summit  of  the  Massinuttou 
Mountain  informed  him  that  General  Shields  was  pressing  up 
the  Luray  valley  to  intercept  him  at  Port  Republic ;  but  this 
fact  gave  him  little  concern.  The  real  struggle  had  been  to  pre- 
vent the  enemy  from  uniting  their  columns  and  striking  him 
while  laden  with  spoils  and  prisoners.  One  of  their  columns 
was  now  distanced  ;  the  other  was  not  feared.  Jackson  had 
been  the  lion  in  the  toils,  but  he  was  now  out  of  the  meshes. 


THE   DEATH   OF   ASHBT.  167 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE    DEATH    OF    ASHBT. 

THE  army  marched  from  Harrisonburg  in  the  direction  of 
Port  Republic,  on  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  June.  They  had 
not  seen  the  enemy  for  nearly  two  days,  and  indulged  the  hope 
that  they  were  now  beyond  pursuit.  In  this,  however,  they 
were  mistaken.  The  destruction  of  the  bridge  over  the  Shenan- 
doah  had  delayed  the  Federal  advance  for  a  short  time  only,  and 
they  were  now  pressing  forward  again  on  Jackson's  trail. 

Their  cavalry  advance — the  1st  New  Jersey — was  com- 
manded by  Sir  Percy  Wyndham,  an  Englishman,  who  had  served 
as  a  captain  in  the  Austrian  army ;  in  the  Italian  Revolution 
under  Garibaldi  as  colonel,  and  had  come  to  the  United  States 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and  received  from  President 
Lincoln  the  appointment  of  colonel  of  cavalry.  Placed  in  com- 
mand of  a  regiment  to  operate  in  the  Valley,  Colonel  Wyndham 
had  suffered  much  from  the  enterprise  and  activity  of  Ashby, 
and  had  publicly  announced  his  intention  speedily  to  "  bag  "  that 
officer.  We  learn  this  from  a  correspondent  of  a  Northern 
journal  who  accompanied  Colonel  Wyndham,  and  who  narrated 
what  occurred  on  this  occasion.  Advancing  now  from  Harrison- 
burg,  Colonel  Wyndham  came,  about  three  in  the  afternoon, 
upon  Ashby's  cavalry,  drawn  up  to  dispute  his  further  progress, 
and  notified  his  friend  the  correspondent,  that  if  he  "  wished  to 
see  a  little  fun,"  he  ought  to  remain  and  witness  the  encounter. 
The  correspondent  did  do  so,  and  what  he  witnessed  was  the 
scene  here  recorded.  Ashby  had  seen  Colonel  Wyndham  some 
time  before  he  was  himself  discovered,  and  determined  to  "  bag  " 
•Sir  Percy.  He  accordingly  sent  a  portion  of  his  command  to 
make  a  circuit,  unperceived,  and  take  position  on  the  side  of  the 
road  at  a  point  where  the  crest  of  a  small  hill  concealed  them 
from  view.  When  the  party  was  in  position,  he  made  a  demon- 


168  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

stration  on  the  road  in  front  of  Colonel  Wyndham,  with  the 
apparent  purpose  of  opposing  his  advance. 

The  force  which  Ashby  showed  in  front  was  designedly  small, 
to  draw  his  adversary  on  ;  and  the  plan  succeeded.  Wyndham, 
flushed  with  anticipated  success,  and  now  certain  that  he  would 
capture  or  crush  the  renowned  cavalier  of  the  Valley,  charged 
down  the  road  ;  when  Ashby  advanced  to  meet  him,  the  party  in 
ambush  closed  in  on  his  rear,  and  he  was  captured,  together  with 
sixty-three  of  his  men.  As  he  was  marched  to  the  rear,  under 
guard,  he  is  described  as  appearing  "  much  chopfallen,  and  look- 
.ng  unutterable  things  in  the  way  of  impotent  rage,  disappointed 
hopes,  and  wounded  pride."  As  he  passed  along,  the  troops 
greeted  his  appearance  with  laughter ;  but  what  is  said  to  have 
excited  his  rage  to  the  highest  pitch,  Avas  the  exclamation  of  one 
of  the  Southern  soldiers  as  he  passed :  "  Look  at  the  Yankee 
colonel ! "  Sir  Percy,  it  seems,  had  a  great  horror  of  being 
regarded  as  a  "Yankee,"  and  could  not  bear  this  title  with 
equanimity. 

The  affair  which  thus  resulted  in  the  capture  of  Colonel 
Wyndham  by  the  commander  of  the  Confederate  cavalry,  was 
succeeded  on  the  same  afternoon  by  a  more  serious  engagement, 
in  which  Ashby  was  to  fall — depriving  the  army  of  the  services 
of  a  partisan  of  matchless  enterprise,  indefatigable  energy,  and 
romantic  daring.  His  fame  had  mounted  to  the  zenith  in  the 
brief  and  fiery  campaign  now  nearly  over,  and  he  seemed  to 
have  before  him  long  years  of  renown  and  usefulness,  when  he 
was  suddenly  cut  down.  We  approach  the  narrative  of  his  death 
with  reluctance,  but  cannot  omit  an  event  which  covered  the 
whole  army  with  gloom,  and  struck  down  in  his  pride  and 
strength  the  renowned  Partisan  of  the  Valley. 

The  enemy's  cavalry  was  speedily  followed  by  the  main  body 
of  their  troops,  and,  believing  that  he  could  strike  them  to  advan- 
tage, Ashby  sent  back  for  a  portion  of  the  infantry  which  was 
placed  at  his  orders,  for  the  defence  of  the  rear.  The  58th  Vir- 
ginia and  1st  Maryland  were  sent  to  him  ;  and,  leaving  Colone1 
Munford  in  command  of  the  cavalry,  with  orders  to  keep  up  a 


THE    DEATH    OF    ASHBY. 

fire  of  artillery  upon  the  Federal  cavalry,  drawn  up  on  a  hill  in 
his  front,  Ashby  took  the  two  regiments  of  infantry  and  moved 
to  the  right  of  the  road  through  the  fields,  with  the  design  of 
making  a  circuit,  unperceived,  and  falling  on  the  left  flank  of 
the  enemy.  They  seem  to  have  conceived  a  similar  design  to 
assail  his  right  flank ;  and  thus  the  two  columns  met,  encounter- 
ing each  other  in  a  field  waving  with  ripe  wheat,  near  a  piece  of 
woodland.  General  Ewell,  who  had  now  arrived,  threw  for- 
ward his  skirmishers  to  drive  the  Federal  forces  from  their 
cover  behind  a  fence  immediately  in  his  front.  It  was  about 
sunset  when  this  movement  was  made,  and  the  golden  flush  of 
the  beautiful  June  evening  lingered  on  the  trees  and  brightened 
their  summits,  as  it  slowly  died  away  beyond  the  western  hills. 
The  troops  advanced  cautiously  through  the  tangled  underwood, 
when  all  at  once  the  dropping  fire  of  musketry  was  heard  in 
front,  and  the  58th  Virginia,  a  very  small  regiment,  was  ordered 
to  attack  the  enemy.  Ashby  led  it,  and  a  heavy  volley  was 
poured  into  the  Federal  forces,  which  they  replied  to ;  another 
came  from  the  58th,  and  the  firing  on  the  right  became  hot  and 
continuous.  General  Ewell  saw  that  the  position  of  the  enemy 
was  such  as  to  give  them  great  advantage  against  an  attack  in  front, 
and  that  the  small  numbers  of  the  58th  were  making  no  impres- 
sion. He  accordingly  ordered  Colonel  Johnson,  commanding 
the  1st  Maryland,  to  advance,  while  the  fight  was  going  on,  on 
his  right,  and,  by  charging  the  enemy's  right  flank,  drive  them 
from  the  fence.  Johnson  promptly  obeyed,  and,  gaining  the  edge 
of  the  woods  on  the  Federal  flank,  gave  the  order  to  charge,  and 
his  men  rushed  forward  under  a  heavy  fire.  Captain  Robertson 
and  Lieutenant  Snowden  were  shot  dead ;  Colonel  Johnson's 
horse  fell  with  him,  pierced  with  three  bullets ;  and  the  colors 
of  the  regiment  were  three  times  shot  down.  But  the  Pennsyl- 
vania "Bucktails,"  Lieutenant-Colonel  Kane,  were  driven  from 
their  position  behind  the  fence,  their  colonel  captured,  and  the 
Federal  forces  were  now  in  full  retreat. 

Ashby  was  dead.     He  had  gone  forward  with  the  58th  and 
taken  position  on  the  right  of  the  regiment,  which  suddenly 


170  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

found  itself  in  front  of  the  enemy.  A  volley  was  poured  into 
the  Federal  forces,  as  we  have  seen,  by  the  58th — and  then 
another :  but  the  numbers  of  the  Virginians  were  so  small,  and 
the  position  of  the  Federal  troops  so  well  chosen,  that  the  fire 
did  them  little  damage.  Ashby  witnessed  this  result  and  the 
persistent  stand  of  his  opponents  with  fiery  impatience.  He 
directed  the  58th  to  cease  firing,  and  press  the  enemy  with  the 
bayonet ;  and,  putting  spur  to  his  horse,  rushed  forward,  shouting, 
"  Virginians,  charge ! "  when  the  animal  was  shot  under  him, 
and  fell.*  In  an  instant  he  was  on  his  feet,  and  again  advanced. 
He  had  not,  however,  moved  ten  steps,  and  was  still  ordering 
the  men  not  to  fire  but  depend  on  the  bayonet,  when  a  bullet 
pierced  his  body,  and  he  fell  dead  almost  instantly,  at  the  very 
moment  when  the  shouts  of  triumph  around  him  indicated  the 
repulse  of  the  enemy.  His  body  was  raised  in  the  arms  of  the 
men,  placed  on  a  horse  before  one  of  them,  and,  with  the  equip- 
ments of  his  horse,  borne  from  the  field,  where  the  soldier  had 
died  the  death  he  would  have  chosen — leading  a  charge,  and 
with  his  face  to  the  foe. 

Thus  ended  the  brief  but  splendid  career  of  Turner  Ashby. 
The  leader  in  a  hundred  engagements  had  fallen  in  an  obscure 
skirmish,  so  insignificant  that  the  very  name  of  it  is  unknown. 
But  that  was  not  important.  The  time  and  place  were  nothing, 
-and  would  thus  have  been  regarded  by  him,  so  that  he  died  "  in 
harness,"  fighting  to  the  last. 

The  name  of  Ashby  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  people  of 
Virginia,  Avho  rightly  esteemed  him  as  one  of  the  ablest  soldiers 
of  the  war,  and  one  of  the  noblest  sons  of  the  commonwealth 
which  gave  him  birth.  He  was  the  ideal-type  of  the  Southern 
cavalier,  pure-hearted,  stainless  in  morals,  and  of  heroic  courage 
and  constancy.  Let  us  praise  the  dead  warmly,  when  we  can  do 
so  with  truth — and  Ashby  was  one  of  those  men  who  stand  out 

*  This  horse  was  the  same  which  Jackson  had  ridden  at  the  battle  of 
Manassas,  and  belonged  to  Captain  James  Thomson  of  the  Stuart  Horse 
Artillery.  He  lent  the  animal  to  both  Jackson  and  Ashby,  and  both  were 
shot  upon  him. 


THE   DEATH   OF   ASHBY.  171 

from  his  contemporaries,  and  shed  splendor  upon  an  epoch. 
Those  who  knew  him  best  were  least  able  to  discover  his  faults  ; 
and  those  which  he  did  possess,  were  lost  in  the  blaze  of  great 
virtues.  The  son  of  a  gentleman  of  Fauquier,  he  had  early  con- 
ceived a  passionate  fondness  for  horsemanship,  the  chase,  and 
all  manly  sports,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  revolution  had 
rushed  to  the  standard  of  his  State  with  the  ardor  of  a  knight 
setting  out  on  a  crusade,  or  to  rescue  some  weak  woman  held  in 
durance.  He  was  already  at  Harper's  Ferry  when  Jackson 
arrived  there ;  and  when  a  friend  asked,  "  What  flag  are  we 
going  to  fight  under — the  Palmetto,  or  what  ?"  he  raised  his  hat, 
showed  in  it  a  Virginia  flag  which  he  had  had  painted  on  the 
night  before  his  departure  from  Richmond,  and  replied,  "  Here 
is  the  flag  /  intend  to  fight  under."  That  night  the  flag  was  run 
up  by  the  light  of  the  burning  buildings,  and  Ashby  fought  under 
it  to  the  last.  Thus  commenced  his  career — in  the  midst  of 
joyous  excitement,  with  the  flush  of  youthful  ambition  and  hopes, 
of  distinction ;  but  the  cloud  soon  overshadowed  this  bright 
dawn.  In  the  last  days  of  June,  1861,  his  brother  Richard, 
while  scouting  with  six  men  on  the  Upper  Potomac,  was  attacked 
by  eighteen  of  the  enemy,  and,  his  horse  falling  with  him,  he 
was  cruelly  bruised,  beaten,  and  then  shot  and  killed,  almost 
within  sight  of  Turner  Ashby.  He  tried  to  reach  Richard, 
and  with  eleven  men  charged  one  hundred,  killing  five  with  his 
own  hand ;  but  all  was  of  no  avail.  Richard  lingered  a  few 
days  and  then  died,  and  was  buried  near  the  town  of  Romney. 
Turner  Ashby  being  present  at  his  burial,  he  stood  by  the  grave, 
took  his  brother's  sword,  broke  it,  and  dropped  it  on  the  coffin, 
clasped  his  hands,  and  raised  his  eyes  to  heaven  as  though  regis- 
tering some  vow,  and  then,  closely  compressing  his  lips  to  pre- 
vent a  sob  from  bursting  forth,  mounted  his  horse  in  silence  and 
rode  away.  After  the  death,  of  his  brother,  a  lady  said  of  him, 
"  Ashby  is  now  a  devoted  man"  He  took  command  of  Jack- 
son's cavalry  in  the  autumn  of  1861,  and  his  commander  wrote 
of  him :  "  As  a  partisan  officer  I  never  knew  his  superior.  Hi  a 
daring  was  proverbial,  his  powers  of  endurance  almost  incredk 


172  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

ble,  his  tone  of  character  heroic,  and  his  sagacity  almost  intuitive 
in  divining  the  purposes  and  movements  of  the  enemy."  This 
partisan,  of  character  so  heroic,  of  sagacity  so  intuitive,  was  the 
native  and  untrained  growth  of  Virginia  soil,  with  no  advantage 
from  the  schools,  and  no  military  education.  He  could  scarcely 
drill  a  regiment ;  and  the  discipline  which  he  preserved,  if  he 
could  be  said  to  preserve  any  with  the  men  whom  he  commanded, 
was  more  like  that  of  the  chief  huntsman  of  a  hunting-party 
than  a  leader  of  men  in  the  field.  He  was  a  knight  rather  than 
a  soldier,  but  what  he  wanted  in  knowledge  of  the  science  of 
war,  he  made  up  by  daring  ;  and  his  men  almost  idolized  him, 
for  they  saw  that  he  had  the  eye  and  the  nerve  of  the  born 
leader.  What  made  him  their  chieftain  was  his  fearless  courage, 
his  contempt  for  danger,  his  unassuming  bearing,  and  the  fire 
of  his  eyes,  as  he  waved  his  sword  around  his  head,  and  cried 
in  his  clear,  sweet  voice,  "  Follow  me  !  " 

As  a  leader  of  partisans  he  ranked  among  the  foremost  of  his 
contemporaries.  He  had  the  daring,  the  watchfulness,  the  love 
of  wild  adventure,  and  the  elan  in  an  attack,  which  make  a 
leader  irresistible.  The  best  rider,  probably,  in  the  whole  State 
of  Virginia,  he  had  delighted,  in  days  of  peace,  to  figure  at  tour- 
naments on  his  swift  blood-horses  ;  and  now  the  skill  which  he 
had  acquired  there,  and  in  the  chase,  was  made  useful  for  the 
defence  of  the  border.  He  might  allow  his  men  to  rest,  and 
return  home  if  they  were  dissatisfied  ;  but  he  never  rested,  and 
had  forgotten  all  homes  but  his  saddle.  He  was  never  idle  ; 
ever  curious  to  know  what  the  enemy  designed,  or  were  doing ; 
and  allowed  no  man  to  reconnoitre  for  him  when  he  could  do  sc 
in  person.  He  would  sometimes  ride  daily  over  a  picket  line 
sixty  or  seventy  miles  in  extent,  appearing  suddenly  in  presence 
of  the  lonely  videttes,  and  thus  impressing  upon  them  the  con- 
viction that  his  eye  was  always  on  them.  His  movements  were 
rapid,  untiring,  without  reference  to  night  or  day.  He  came 
aud  went,  it  was  said,  "  like  a  dream."  Heard  of  in  one  part 
of  the  country  on  a  certain  day,  on  the  next  he  would  appear 
suddenly,  on  his  fleet  white  horse,  nearly  a  hundred  miles  dis- 


THE   DEATH   OF   ASHBY.  173 

taut,  in  another  region.  He  was  the  life  and  sou}  of  the  men 
thus  on  duty.  He  never  looked  gloomy  or  dejected,  though 
often  sad ;  and  was  cheerful,  almost  gay,  except  when  the  re- 
membrance of  his  brother's  death  cast  a  shadow  upon  his  fore- 
head. When  that  spell  came  over  him,  and  brought  a  sad 
smile  to  his  lips,  he  was  more  than  ever  dangerous,  and  untiring 
on  the  trail  of  the  enemy ;  for  private  vengeance  as  well  as  the 
public  service  then  stung  him  to  action. 

He  was  a  born  king  of  battle,  and  had  a  passion  for  danger 
for  its  own  sake.  It  charmed  and  intoxicated  him  ;  kindled  the 
gaudium  certaminis  in  his  clear  brown  eyes  ;  and  he  was  plainly 
then  in  his  chosen  element.  The  thunders  of  battle  made  him 
happy.  Habitually  silent  and  sedate,  at  such  moments  he  looked 
animated,  and  grew  eloquent  of  speech.  He  met  Danger  and 
Death  as  old  and  familiar  companions  ;  shook  hands  and  walked 
arm  in  arm  with  them.  Defiance  of  the  enemy  was  at  such 
times  a  species  of  pride  and  delight  to  him.  At  Bolivar  Heights 
his  cannoneers  were  shot  down,  and  the  enemy  were  rushing 
with  loud  shouts  on  his  artillery,  when,  leaping  to  the  ground, 
he  seized  the  sponge-staff,  and  loaded  and  fired  with  his  own 
hands,  driving  them  back  with  shattered  ranks  into  the  town. 
At  Boteler's  mill,  to  encourage  the  militia,  he  rode  up  to  the 
crest  of  the  hill  on  his  famous  white  horse,  in  close  range  of  the 
enemy's  swarm  of  sharpshooters,  slowly  paced  up  and  down, 
and,  when  the  bullets  were  showering  thickest,  reined  in  his  horse, 
and  stood  perfectly  still,  gazing  carelessly  at  them,  the  picture 
and  embodiment  of  chivalry.  At  Winchester,  we  have  seen  him 
wait  until  the  enemy  swarmed  in,  and  then  cut  down  the  men 
sent  round  to  intercept  him ;  at  Middletown,  seen  him  charge 
upon  hundreds  single-handed ;  at  the  bridge  over  the  Shenan- 
doah,  remain  behind  all  his  men,  until  the  enemy  were  upon 
him  ;  and  we  have  shown  how  he  fell,  charging  in  front  of  his 
line,  with  a  spirit  that  was  inaccessible  to  the  emotion  of  fear. 
But  these  scenes  are  only  recorded  by  chance.  The  unwritten 
romance  of  his  career  would  fill  volumes,  and  will  yet  be  col- 
lected from  the  gray-haired  oracles  of  the  fireside. 


174  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

He  never  forgot  that  he  was  a  gentleman,  and  kept  his 
escutcheon  untainted  by  any  blot.  No  excitement,  or  peril,  or 
reverse  made  him  rude ;  no  success  or  praise  touched  his  deli- 
cate and  lofty  spirit  with  the  stain  of  arrogance  or  vanity.  He 
was  as  simple  as  a  child,  and  preserved  his  winning  courtesy 
even  toward  the  enemies  whom  he  must  have  hated  bitterly. 
After  the  battle  of  Winchester,  some  Northern  ladies  came  and 
said :  "  Colonel  Ashby,  you  may  search  bur  baggage  ;  we  assure 
you  we  are  carrying  away  nothing  we  are  not  at  liberty,  to. 
You  may  search  our  persons,  and  see  if  we  carry  away  any 
thing  contraband."  He  replied  :  "  I  have  no  right  to  look  into, 
ladies'  baggage,  or  to  examine  their  trunks.  Virginia  gentle- 
men do  not  search  the  persons  of  ladies." 

He  was  pure  in  his  life,  devout  and  childlike  in  his  religious 
faith,  and  a  regular  attendant  on  the  services  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  which  was  the  church  of  his  ancestors.  He  was  too 
proud  a  man  not  to  be  humble  and  bend  his  knee  to  his  Creator. 
He  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  humors  of  the  vulgar, 
and  kept  himself  aloof  from  the  taint  of  such  intercourse  with 
a  sort  of  noble  hauteur ;  though  no  man  was  more  frank  and 
gay  on  the  march,  in  bivouac,  and  by  the  camp-fire. 

In  appearance  the  partisan  was  thoroughly  the  soldier.  His 
figure  was  below  the  medium  height,  and,  though  not  robust, 
closely  knit  and  vigorous  ;  a  frame  capable  of  sleepless  activity 
and  endurance  ;  of  remaining  Avhole  days  and  nights  in  the  sad- 
dle, and  of  bidding  defiance  to  all  fatigues  and  hardships.  His 
forehead  was  fine  ;  his  eyes  dark  brown,  penetrating,  and  bril- 
liant ;  his  complexion  so  dark  that  he  resembled  a  Moor ;  and 
this  face  was  covered  by  a  heavy  black  beard  and  mustache. 
He  was  careless  in  his  dress,  wearing  a  plain  suit  of  gray,  cav- 
alry boots,  and  a  sash.  He  "  looked  like  work,"  and  was 
generally  spattered  with  mud,  or  covered  with  dust.  A  long 
sabre  and  dark  feather  indicated  the  cavalier ;  his  seat  in  the 
saddle  was  that  of  a  master  rider ;  and  when  this  figure  ap- 
peared amid  the  smoke  of  battle,  the  face  all  ablaze,  and  the 
nervous  hand  guiding  the  most  fiery  horse,  as  though  the  two 


THE   DEATH   OF   ASHBT.  175 

.were  one,  it  was  impossible  to  imagine  a  more  perfect  picture 
,of  the  cavaliers  of  Prince  Rupert  in  the  days  of  Charles  I.  Of 
.his  appearance  in  action  his  friends  recall  many  particulars,  and 
their  words  grow  eloquent  as  they  write  of  him.  "  The  last 
*ime  I  saw  Ashby,"  says  Colonel  Johnson,  who  was  near  him 
when  he  fell,  "  he  was  riding  at  the  head  of  the  column  with 
jGeneral  Ewell,  his  black  face  in  a  blaze  of  enthusiasm.  Every 
feature  beamed  with  the  joy  of  the  soldier.  He  was  gesticu- 
lating, and  pointing  out  the  country  and  positions  to  General 
Ewell.  I  could  imagine  what  he  was  saying,  by  the  motions  of 
his  right  arm.  I  pointed  him  out  to  my  adjutant.  '  Look  at 
Ashby  ;  see  how  he  is  enjoying  himself! ' ' 

Of  this  beautiful  nature,  full  of  heroism,  modesty,  and  chiv- 
.iilry,  much  more  might  be  said,  but  the  crowded  canvas  does 
not  admit  of  an  adequate  delineation  of  him.  The  writer  of 
this  page  had  the  honor  and  happiness  to  know  him ;  to  hear  the 
sweet  accents  of  his  friendly  voice  ;  and  to  look  into  the  depths 
of  those  clear  brown  eyes,  which  never  sank  before  the  stare  of 
peril.  It  seems  to  him  now,  as  he  remembers  Ashby,  that  he 
has  knowu  and  clasped  hands  with  one  of  the  greatest  of  the 
worthies  of  Virginia.  As  a  stranger,  he  was  charming ;  but 
those  who  knew  him  best  and  longest  are  his  warmest  eulogists. 
>'  I  was  with  him,"  says  Colonel  Johnson,  "  when  the  first  blow 
was  struck  for  the  cause  which  we  both  had  so  much  at  heart ; 
,and  was  with  him  in  his  last  fight,  always  knowing  him  to  be 
beyond  all  modern  men  in  chivalry,  as  he  was  equal  to  any  one 
in  courage.  He  combined  the  virtues  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney  with 
the  dash  of  Murat.  I  contribute  my  mite  to  his  fame,  which 
will  live  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia,  outside  of  books,  as  long  as 
its  hills  and  mountains  shall  endure." 

Such  was  the  man  who  had  fallen,  in  the  bloom  of  manhood, 
and  just  as  his  fame  began  to  dazzle  every  eye.  The  career  of 
the  great  partisan  was  romantic,  splendid,  evanescent.  He 
passed  like  a  dream  of  chivalry.  Young  in  years  when  he  died, 
he  was  old  in  toil,  in  vigils,  in  battles,  in  responsibilities,  and 
.eminent  public  services.  Fate  had  setlts  seal  upon  him.  After 


176  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

his  brother's  death,  a  sad  smile  was  the  habitual  expression  ot 
his  countenance,  and  his  life  was  little  worth  to  him,  for  he  waa 
"devoted"  to  death  and  to  glory.  That  death  soon  came,  when, 
his  pulses  were  most  fiery  ;  and  in  a  mean,  unknown  skirmish 
Virginia  lost  one  of  the  greatest  of  her  defenders.  The  bold 

O  C3 

rider,  the  brave  partisan,  the  great  soldier,  the  gentleman,  the 
patriot,  the  Christian,  the  knight  without  fear  and  without  re- 
proach— such  was  Ashby. 

He  fell  OQ  the  field,  with  the  war-cry  on  his  lips,  and  fighting 
for  his  native  soil ;  the  wave  of  death  rolled  over  him,  and  the> 
figure  of  the  partisan  disappeared  in  its  depths.  But  that  figure 
is  not  lost.  It  has  passed  from  earth  and  the  eyes  of  the  flesh,, 
but  will  live  immortal  on  the  pages  of  history,  in  the  memories- 
of  the  aged,  and  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  who  saw  his  great 
faculties,  and  loved  him  as  the  flower  of  chivalry  and  honor. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

JACKSON  NARROWLY  ESCAPES  CAPTURE. 

To  clearly  comprehend  the  strategy  of  Jackson  from  this 
moment,  it  is  necessary  that  the  reader  should  have  a  correct 
knowledge  of  the  situation  of  the  opposing  forces,  and  the- 
ground  upon  which  the  adversaries  were  about  to  manoeuvre- 
their  columns. 

Port  Republic  is  a  village  situated  in  the  angle  formed  by 
the  junction  of  the  North  and  South  Rivers,  tributaries  of  the 
south  fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  running,  as  we  have  seen,  between 
the  Blue  Ridge  and  the  Massinutton,  and  uniting  its  waters  witb 
the  north  fork  in  the  vicinity  of  Front  Royal.  The  village  is 
about  fifteen  miles  southeast  of  Harrisonburg,  and  is  connected 
with  that  place  by  a  county  road  which  crosses  a  bridge  over 
the  North  River  at  the  town.  Another  road  passes  through  a 
ford  in  the  South  River,  runs  northeast  from  Port  Republic,  and 


JACKSON   NARROWLY    ESCAPES   CAPTURE.  177 

down  the  right  bank  of  the  Shenandoah,  to  Conrad's  Store  and 
Luray.  A  third,  crossing  at  the  same  ford,  east  of  the  town, 
runs  southeast,  passes  the  Blue  Ridge  at  Brown's  Gap,  and 
leads  to  Charlottesville.  The  ground  around  Port  Republic  is 
rolling,  and  broken  into  hills  and  spurs,  crowned  with  forests ; 
the  fields,  at  the  time  of  the  battle,  were  waving  with  corn  and 
wheat.  North  of  the  town  the  ground  is  elevated,  and  this  was 
the  position  which  Jackson  occupied  with  his  main  body,  Ewell 
remaining  in  the  rear,  about  four  miles  distant,  on  the  road  to 
Harrisonburg,  and  at  a  point  to  which  the  intersection  of  sev- 
eral roads  had  given  the  name  of  Cross  Keys. 

Port  Republic,  occupied  by  Jackson ;  Conrad's  Store,  occu- 
pied by  Shields  ;  and  Harrisonburg,  occupied  by  Fremont,  formed 
very  nearly  the  angles  of  an  equilateral  triangle,  the  sides  fif- 
teen miles  in  length.  Brown's  Gap  was  nearly  in  Jackson's 
rear,  as  he  faced  both  his  adversaries :  thus  his  avenue  of  re- 
treat was  completely  open,  and  it  was  entirely  at  his  option 
whether  he  would  fight,  or  fall  back.  Entirely  out  of  the  net 
which  the  enemy  had  thrown  to  entrap  him  at  New  Market,  he 
was  master  of  his  own  destiny,  and  it  remained  for  him  to  de- 
cide whether  he  would  abandon  the  Valley  and  unite  his  forces 
with  those  of  Johnston  at  Richmond,  or  advance  to  attack  the 
armies  which  had  so  persistently  followed  and  offered  him  battle. 

The  odds  against  him  were  still  such  as  would  have  discour- 
aged a  less  resolute  commander.  General  Fremont's  army  at 
Harrisonburg  is  said  to  have  numbered  about  20,000  men,  and 
the  force  of  General  Shields,  at  Conrad's  Store,  between  10,000 
and  15,000 — probably  about  12,000  ;  making  the  whole  force 
opposed  to  Jackson  somewhat  more  than  30,000  troops.  His 
own  force  had  approached  20,000  when  he  marched  down  the 
Valley  to  attack  General  Banks  ;  but  such  had  been  the  rapidity 
of  the  march,  both  in  advancing  and  retreating,  and  so  many  of 
his  troops  were  laid  up,  detailed,  and  absent  from  other  causes, 
that  his  entire  force  amounted,  probably,  at  this  moment,  to  not 
wiore  than,  if  as  much  as  12,000  men. 

These  estimates  are  made  upon  reliable  data,  and,  though 
12 


178  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

not  official,  are  probably  very  near  the  truth.  It  will  thus  be 
seen  that  Jackson  had  in  front  of  him  an  adversary  more  than 
twice  as  strong  in  numbers  as  himself. 

It  was  the  relative  position  of  the  two  columns  of  the  enemy, 
however,  which  now  induced  him  not  to  retreat  further,  but  to 
act  on  the  offensive.  Fremont  and  Shields  were  only  ten  or 
fifteen  miles  apart ;  but  Jackson  had  destroyed  the  bridge  over 
I  lie  Shenandoah  at  Conrad's  Store,  and  they  were  thus  no  nearer 
a  junction  of  their  two  columns  than  before.  To  attack  him, 
General  Fremont  must  assail  him  by  the  Harrisonburg  road  in 
his  front,  and  General  Shields  by  the  road  running  down  on  his 
right  flank ;  and,  if  he  could  strike  these  adversaries  in  detail, 
before  their  forces  were  united  at  Port  Republic,  he  might  count 
with  some  certainty  upon  defeating  them. 

His  plans  were  rapidly  resolved  on,  and  he  hastened  to  carry 
them  into  execution.  General  Ewell  had  fallen  back  from  the 
ground  where  Ashby  fell,  and  now  occupied  a  strong  position 
on  the  Harrisonburg  road ;  and  the  defence  of  that  avenue  of 
approach  could  be  left  with  confidence  to  this  trusty  soldier, 
while  Jackson  went  with  the  main  column  to  meet  General 
Shields. 

Jackson's  plans  were  simple.  He  intended  to  crush  General 
Shields  at  one  blow,  and  then  return  to  the  assistance  of  Ewell, 
unite  their  forces,  and  fall  upon  the  main  body  under  Fremont. 
The  rest  he  left  to  Providence. 

The  great  series  of  manosuvres  now  commenced  with  energy. 
Jackson's  main  body  arrived  opposite  Port  Republic  on  the 
night  of  the  7th  of  June,  and  a  small  force  of  cavalry  was  at 
once  sent  out  on  the  road  toward  Conrad's  Store  to  verify  the 
report  of  the  rapid  advance  of  General  Shields,  and  reconnoitre 
the  strength  of  his  column.  On  the  next  morning  the  cavalry 
came  galloping  back,  with  discreditable  precipitancy,  and  an- 
nounced that  the  enemy  were  then  marching  on  Port  Republic, 
and  were  nearly  in  sight  of  the  place.  Jackson,  who  had  crossed 
into  the  town  on  the  night  before,  accompanied  by  some  mem- 
bers of  his  staif,  saw  that  not  a  moment  was  to  be  lost.  The 


JACKSON   NARROWLY   ESCAPES    CAPTURE.  179 

enemy's  design  was  evidently  to  make  a  sudden  attack  upon  the 
town,  destroy  the  bridge  over  the  Shenandoah,  and  thus  cut  off 
the  army,  and  get  in  its  rear.  To  defeat  this  design,  Jackson 
sent  hurried  orders  to  Taliaferro  and  Winder  to  get  their  men 
under  arms  for  the  defence  of  the  bridge,  and  occupy  the  ground 
on  the  north  side,  immediately  opposite  to  it,  with  their  batteries. 
Before  these  orders  could  be  executed,  the  Federal  advance 
guard  appeared,  their  batteries  opened  fire,  and  their  cavalry, 
crossing  the  South  River,  dashed  into  the  town,  followed  by  the 
artillery,  which  thundered  forward,  and  took  position  at  the 
southern  entrance  of  the  bridge. 

Jackson  and  his  staff  had  not  recrossed  the  river,  and  were 
completely  cut  off.  His  army  was  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Shenandoah,  its  general  with  his  staff  on  the  south  side,  with 
the  enemy's  cavalry  and  artillery  holding  the  only  avenue  of  re- 
turn to  the  northern  bank.  The  emergency  served  to  display 
Jackson's  nerve  and  presence  of  mind.  He  rode  toward  the 
bridge,  and,  rising  in  his  stirrups,  called  sternly  to  the  Federal 
officer  commanding  the  artillery  placed  to  sweep  it :  "  Who 
ordered  you  to  post  that  gun  there,  sir  ?  Bring  it  over  here  !  " 

The  tone  of  these  words  was  so  assured  and  commanding, 
that  the  officer  did  not  imagine  they  could  be  uttered  by  any 
other  than  one  of  the  Federal  generals,  and,  bowing,  he  limbered 
up  the  piece,  and  prepared  to  move.  Jackson  lost  no  time  in 
taking  advantage  of  the  opportunity.  He  put  spurs  to  his  horse, 
and,  followed  by  his  staff,  crossed  the  bridge  at  full  gallop,  fol- 
lowed by  three  hasty  shots  from  the  artillery,  which  had  been 
hastily  unlimbered  and  turned  on  him.  It  was  too  late.  The 
shots  flew  harmless  over  the  heads  of  the  general  and  his  staff, 
and  they  reached  the  northern  bank  in  safety.* 

*  This  incident  has  been  variously  related.  It  is  here  given  accurately. 
The  correspondent  of  a  Northern  journal  published  the  following  statement 
soon  afterwards,  which  we  extract  for  the  amusement  of  the  reader :  "  Yes- 
terday I  met  Captain  Robinson,  of  Robinson's  battery,  on  his  way  home  to 
Portsmouth,  Ohio,  to  recruit.  He  was  at  the  battle  of  Port  Republic,  where 
his  brother  lost  three  guns,  and  was  wounded  and  made  prisoner.  Captain 


180  LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

No  time  was  now  lost  in  placing  the  Confederate  batteries 
in  position,  and  preparing  for  an  assault  with  infantry  on  the 
force  occupying  the  bridge.  The  guns  of  Wooding,  Poague, 
and  Carpenter  were  hurried  forward,  and  Poague  opened  with 
one  of  his  pieces  on  the  Federal  artillery,  from  which  Jackson 
had  just  escaped.  This  was  followed  by  a  rapid  advance  of  the 
infantry.  Taliaferro's  brigade  having  reached  the  point  first, 
was  ordered  forward,  and  the  37th  Virginia,  Colonel  Fulkerson, 
charged  across  the  bridge  in  face  of  the  enemy's  artillery  fire, 
and  captured  the  gun  which  was  playing  upon  them.  The  rest 
of  the  brigade  followed ;  the  Federal  cavalry  was  dispersed  and 
driven  back ;  another  gun  captured,  and  the  town  was  in  Jack- 
son's possession. 

The  enemy  determined,  however,  not  to  give  up  the  place 
without  a  struggle  ;  and  their  4th  brigade,  under  General  Carroll, 
now  advanced  to  the  attack.  The  effort  failed  in  its  inception. 
They  were  met  by  the  fire  of  the  Confederate  batteries,  which 
sent  a  storm  of  shell  into  the  advancing  infantry  and  retreating 
cavalry,  and  the  Federal  forces  recoiled.  In  a  short  time  they 
were  observed  to  retreat,  and  they  continued  to  fall  back  until 
they  had  reached  Lewis',  three  miles  down  the  river,  where  they 
turned  a  bend  in  the  road,  and  were  lost  sight  of  by  the  artillery, 
which  had  continued  to  follow  them  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the 

Robinson,  who  appears  to  be  a  very  modest  and  veracious  man,  relates  that 
while  he  was  working  one  of  his  guns,  Stonewall  Jackson,  whose  form  was 
familiar  to  him,  came  within  easy  hailing  distance,  and,  standing  erect  in  his 
stirrups,  beckoned  with  his  hand,  and  actually  ordered  him  to  '  bring  that 
gun  over  here.' 

"  Captain  Robinson  replied  by  eagerly  firing  three  shots  at  the  ubiquitous 
Presbyterian,  but  without  even  the  effect  of  scaring  him.  '  I  might  have 
known,'  said  he,  '  that  I  could  not  hit  him.' 

"  Captain  Robinson  is  utterly  at  a  loss  to  explain  this  extraordinary  per- 
sonal demonstration  of  the  redoubtable  'Stonewall.'  Whether  he  mistook 
him  for  one  of  his  own  men,  or  that  some  incomprehensible  ruse  was  involved 
in  the  act,  he  does  not  pretend  to  guess.  But  one  thing  he  does  know — that 
Stonewall  Jackson  is  the  great  man  of  the  war,  and  that  our  troops  in  the 
Valley  believe  him  to  be  as  humane  as  he  is  rapid  and  daring." 


CROSS   KEYS.  181 

river,  and  hasten  their  movements  by  firing  on  their  Sank  and 
fear.     Such  was  the  end  of  the  first  act  of  the  drama. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

CROSS   KEYS. 

THE  attack  of  General  Shields  on  Port  Republic  had  scarcely 
been  repulsed,  when  General  Ewell  was  assailed  by  General 
Fremont  from  the  direction  of  Harrisonburg. 

Ewell  was  posted,  as  we  have  said,  with  his  division,  nearly 
half  way  between  Harrisonburg  and  Port  Republic,  where  sev- 
eral roads  unite  at  a  point  known  as  Cross  Keys,  from  a  tavern 
which  formerly  stood  near  the  junction  of  the  roads,  bearing 
two  keys  crossed  upon  its  sign-board.  The  ground  upon  which 
he  determined  to  receive  the  attack  of  the  enemy  was  a  com- 
manding ridge  •running  at  right  angles  to  the  Port  Republic  road, 
which  intersects  it  at  about  the  centre.  In  front  was  a  large 
extent  of  open  ground  through  which  a  rivulet  ran,  and  his 
flanks  were  protected  by  woods  which  concealed  the  position  of 
the  troops. 

Trimble's  brigade  was  posted  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  on 
the  right,  across  the  creek,  somewhat  in  advance  of  the  centre  ; 
General  Geo.  H.  Steuart's  brigade  on  the  left,  in  a  wood,  with  a 
field  in  their  front ;  and  the  centre  was  held  by  the  batteries  of 
Courtney,  Raines,  Brockenbrough,  and  Lusk,  in  the  open  field 
upon  the  ridge,  supported  by  the  21st  North  Carolina,  of  Trim- 
ble's brigade,  and  Elzey's  brigade  as  a  reserve.  From  an  aide- 
de-camp  of  General  Blenker,  killed  by  one  of  General  Trimble's 
men,  was  afterwards  taken  General  Fremont's  "  Order  of 
March  ;  "  and  this  showed  that  his  force  consisted  of  six  brigades 
of  infantry,  commanded  by  Generals  Blenker,  Milroy,  Stahel, 
Steinwehr,  and  another,  and  one  brigade  of  cavalry.  Ewell 
liad  three  brigades — Elzey's,  Steuart's,  and  Trimble's,  Taylor's 


182  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

Dot  having  come  up  in  time — and  we  have  his  own  authority  for 
stating  that  his  force  did  not  number  5,000  bayonets. 

Ewell's  dispositions  were  scarcely  made,  and  the  troops  well 
in  position,  when  the  15th  Alabama,  Colonel  Canty,  which  had 
been  thrown  out  some  distance  in  front,  was  attacked  by  the 
enemy,  and  forced  gradually  to  retire  before  the  large  force  op«" 
posed  to  it.  The  regiment  made,  however,  a  gallant  resistance,- 
and  succeeded  in  holding  the  enemy  in  check  until  Ewell  was- 
ready  to  receive  them,  when  the  men  retired.  The  Federal 
forces  now  advanced  cautiously,  and  threw  out  skirmishers  to1 
feel  the  Confederate  position,  their  artillery  following  and  taking 
position  in  the  centre,  near  the  church  and  former  Cross  Keys 
tavern,  directly  opposite  to  that  of  General  Ewell.  About  noon 
their  batteries  opened,  and  the  Confederates  replying  with  ani- 
mation, several  hours  were  spent  in  an  artillery  duel,  without 
serious  results  upon  either  side. 

The  indisposition  of  the  enemy  to  advance  upon  the  small 
force  opposed  to  them  can  only  be  explained  upon  the  hypothesis 
that  General  Fremont  supposed  Jackson's  main*  body  to  be  in 
his  front.  The  roar  of  artillery  from  the  direction  of  Port  Re- 
public had  announced  to  him  the  arrival  of  General  Shields  at 
that  point,  and  induced  him  to  advance  from  Harrisonburg,  with 
the  view  of  attacking  Jackson's  rear  while  he  was  engaged  with 
the  column  of  Shields  ;  but  the  gradually  receding  thunder  of  the 
Southern  guns,  as  General  Shields  fell  back  and  was  pursued 
down  the  river,  was  sufficient  proof  of  the  failure  of  the  attack  ;; 
and  the  enemy  now  seemed  to  fear — with  good  grounds  for  the 
apprehension — an  assault  upon  their  main  body  by  Jackson's 
entire  command,  concentrated  at  Cross  Keys. 

In  this  state  of  doubt  and  ignorance  of  his  adversary's  posi- 
tion and  designs,  General  Fremont  did  not  advance  his  infantry 
for  some  hours — contenting  himself  with  the  cannonade  above 
described.  But  as  the  day  passed  on,  and  Jackson  did  not  at- 
tack, he  discovered  the  small  number  of  the  force  in  his  front, 
and  made  his  dispositions  for  an  assault  upon  the  Confederate 
right  wing,  to  turn  their  position*  The  attack  was  soon  made/ 


CROSS    KEYS.  183 

A.  Federal  brigade  was  suddenly  seen  moving  toward  the  Con- 
federate right,  under  cover  of  the  woods,  in  the  direction  of  a 
hill  whose  crest  was  directly  in  front  of  General  Trimble.  They 
steadily  moved  forward  without  annoyance  from  the  Confed- 
erates— Trimble  reserving  his  fire — when,  just  as  they  mounted 
the  crest  of  the  hill,  within  easy  range  of  musketry,  Trimble 
gave  the  word,  and  a  long  sheet  of  fire  ran  along  his  lines,  fol- 
lowed by  a  crash  which  resounded  through  the  woods,  and  told 
Ewell  that  the  battle  had  begun.  The  fire  was  so  sudden  and 
deadly  that  the  ground  was  covered  with  the  dead  and  wounded, 
and  the  whole  Federal  line  was  borne  back  and  driven  from  the 
crest.  This  advantage  was  quickly  followed  up.  Observing  a 
battery  coming  into  position  directly  in  his  front,  General  Trim- 
ble ordered  a  charge  upon  it.  The  13th  and  25th  Virginia,  of 
Elzey's  brigade,  had  been  hurried  up  from  the  rear ;  and,  thus 
reenforced,  General  Trimble  pushed  forward  to  capture  the  bat- 
tery. As  he  advanced,  the  Federal  infantry  posted  to  support 
the  guns  opened  on  his  line ;  but  the  troops  responded  with  so 
much  animation,  that  the  Federal  forces  were  driven  from  their 
position,  and  the  battery  hastily  limbered  up  and  beat  a  retreat, 
leaving  Trimble  in  possession  of  the  ground.  This  brief  en- 
gagement was  almost  without  loss  on  the  Southern  side,  and  en- 
abled Trimble  to  advance  his  position  more  than  a  mile ;  while 
the  Federal  forces  were  obliged  to  make  a  corresponding  change 
and  fall  back  to  the  ground  occupied  by  them  before  they  ad- 
vanced to  the  attack. 

In  this  charge,  a  stand  of  colors  was  taken  ;  the  honor  of 
its  capture  being  claimed  both  by  the  16th  Mississippi,  Colonel 
Posey,  and  the  21st  Georgia,  Colonel  Mercer. 

A  simultaneous  attack  had  been  made  on  the  left,  where 
Steuart  was  posted,  and  not  less  than  four  charges  were  made 
by  fresh  Federal  troops  in  this  part  of  the  field.  They  were  all 
repulsed  with  loss  to  the  enemy — the  Confederates  fighting  for 
the  most  part  behind  trees — and  General  Ewell  was  about  to 
order  his  whole  line  forward,  when  a  large  force  of  the  enemy 
was  reported  to  be  moving  around  his  left,  with  the  design  of 


'184  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

assailing  him  in  the  rear.  This  turned  out  to  be  erroneous 
and,  having  strengthened  his  centre  and  left  with  the  42d  and 
48th  Virginia  and  1st  ("Irish")  battalion,  all  under  Colonel 
Patton,  he  ordered  a  general  advance,  which  began  about  dark. 
His  left  had  advanced  nearly  within  musket  range  of  the  Fed 
eral  bivouac  fires  near  the  church,  and  Trimble  was  about  as 
close  to  them,  when  Ewell  received  orders  from  Jackson  to 
withdraw  as  soon  as  possible,  and  cross  the  river  to  Port  Repub- 
lic. This  was  done  without  loss  of  time.  The  dead  were  buried, 
the  wounded  removed,  except  those  in  articulo  mortis,  whom 
it  would  have  been  cruel  to  disturb,*  and  the  troops  moved  about 
midnight  toward  Port  Republic,  which  they  reached  at  daylight. 

General  Ewell's  loss  in  this  battle  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing,  was  300.  The  enemy  are  said  to  have  buried  about 
300,  threw  others  into  a  well,  and  lost  about  100  prisoners. 
They  stated  their  loss  to  be  2,000  ;  and  this  remarkable  dispro- 
portion can  only  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  Ewell's  position 
was  vastly  better  than  his  adversary's,  and  that  his  opponents 
were  chiefly  Dutch. f 

The  engagement  at  Cross  Keys  was  indecisive,  but  important 
in  its  bearing  upon  the  general  plans  of  Jackson.  General  Fre- 
mont's whole  column  had  been  checked  by  a  much  smaller  force, 
and  an  opportunity  given  for  a  concentration  of  all  Jackson's 
troops  for  the  object  which  he  now  had  in  view. 

His  design  was  to  quietly  withdraw  the  command  of  General 
Ewell  during  the  night,  leaving  only  a  small  force  to  make  dem- 
onstrations in  Fremont's  front ;  and,  concentrating  the  army  at 
Port  Republic,  cross  the  river,  advance  upon  General  Shields, 
and  crush  him  at  a  blow.  The  details  of  this  intended  move- 
ment, and  Jackson's  further  designs,  are  so  clearly  conveyed  in 

*  It  is  related  of  General  Ewell  that  he  remained  to  the  last  on  the  field  of 
Cross  Keys,  helping  to  place  the  wounded  on  horseback  with  his  own  hands, 
tind  giving  to  those  who  were  too  badly  injured  to  be  removed,  money  out 
of  his  own  pocket. 

f  The  writer  is  indebted  to  General  Ewell  for  interesting  particulars  re- 
Bating  to  this  action. 


CEOS8   KEYS.  185 

a  MS.  statement  of  Colonel  John  M.  Patton,  commanding  the 
force  left  in  front  of  General  Fremont,  that  we  here  give  an  ex- 
tract from  it.  Colonel  Patton  had  in  his  brigade  only  eight  hun- 
dred effective  men ;  and  feeling  that  it  was  desirable  to  know  as 
much  as  possible  of  Jackson's  designs,  and  the  duty  expected  of 
him,  he  repaired  during  the  night  to  Port  Republic,  to  have  an 
interview  with  the  General. 

u  I  found  him  at  two  o'clock  A.  M.,"  says  Colonel  Patton, 
"  actively  making  his  dispositions.  He  immediately  proceeded  to 
give  me  particular  instructions  as  to  the  management  of  my  men 
in  covering  the  rear,  saying :  '  I  wish  you  to  throw  out  all  your 
men  if  necessary,  as  skirmishers,  and  to  make  a  great  show  and 
parade,  so  as  to  make  the  enemy  think  that  the  whole  army  are 
behind  you.  Hold  your  position  as  well  as  you  can,  then  fall 
back  when  obliged ;  take  a  new  position  and  hold  it  in  the  same 
way,  and  I'll  be  back  to  join  you  in  the  morning.'  I  replied 
that,  as  he  knew  the  ground  over  which  I  had  to  retire  (from 
Cross  Keys  to  Port  Republic)  was  as  bad  ground  for  the  pur- 
pose as  any  in  the  Valley,  and  as  my  force  was  small,  it  was 
therefore  very  interesting  for  me  to  know  when  he  would  be 
back.  He  turned  his  face  aside  and  a  little  up,  as  he  sometimes 
did,  and  replied :  '  By  the  blessing  of  Providence  I  hope  to  be 
back  by  ten  o'clock.' 

"  This  purpose  of  General  Jackson's,"  adds  Colonel  Patton, 
"  was  not  executed,  on  account  of  the  untoward  result  of  his  first 
charge  on  the  Yankee  battery  at  Port  Republic.  When  that  re- 
pulse took  place,  an  aide  was  despatched^  to  us,  who  reached  us 
with  his  horse  foaming,  just  as  we  were  taking  up  a  new  posi- 
tion, and  ordered  us  to  break  up  our  position,  cross  the  bridge 
at  Port  Republic,  burn  it,  and  hurry  up  to  the  battle-field,  double 
quick." 

But  we  anticipate  the  order  of  events. 


186  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

CHAPTEE   XVII. 

POET  REPUBLIC. 

JACKSON  moved  to  attack  the  Federal  column  under  General 
Shields  about  sunrise. 

The  battle  of  Port  Republic  was  fought  on  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  Shenandoah,  about  two  miles  from  the  town.  The  force 
driven  out  of  the  place  on  the  preceding  day  Avas  only  the  ad- 
vance guard,  under  General  Carroll.  The  main  body  of  General 
Shields'  army  had  now  come  up,  and  that  commander  had  taken 
a  position  which  gave  him  great  advantages  in  the  bloody  con- 
flict about  to  ensue.  His  right  flank  rested  on  the  river,  which 
here  bends  round  in  the  shape  of  a  crescent,  and  is  edged  with 
thickets  along  its  margin,  so  dense  as  almost  completely  to  pre- 
vent the  advance  of  troops.  From  this  strong  point  the  Federal 
line  of  battle  stretched  away  across  an  extensive  field  embraced 
in  the  bend  of  the  stream,  and  at  this  time  covered  with  a  wheat 
crop  which  the  sunny  days  of  June  had  turned  into  waving  gold. 
Their  left  wing  rested  on  a  wooded  ridge  near  the 'Lewis  house, 
and  just  at  the  foot  of  Cole  Mountain ;  and  at  this  point  they 
had  posted  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  with  others  in  the  rear  of 
the  line,  wherever  the  undulation  of  the  ground  afforded  them 
an  opportunity  to  employ  artillery  to  advantage.  Thus  judi- 
ciously drawn  up,  with  his  flanks  protected  by  a  river  and  a 
thickly  wooded  ridge,  General  Shields  awaited  with  confidence^ 
the  expected  attack  of  Jackson. 

That  attack  was  not  delayed.  The  Federal  regiments  were 
scarcely  arranged  in  line  of  battle,  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
waving  proudly  in  the  early  sunshine,  when  they  saw  advan- 
cing toward  them  a  long  line  of  glittering  bayonets  beneath  the 
Confederate  flag,  and  the  blue  "Sic  semper"  banner  of  Vir- 
ginia.* It  was  the  Stonewall  Brigade,  under  General  Winder, 

*  Letter  of  a  soldier. 


PORT   REPUBLIC 


POET   REPUBLIC.  187 

and  accompanied  by  Jackson  in  person.  They  had  encountered 
and  driven  off  the  Federal  pickets  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
Port  Republic ;  and  as  they  now  swept  forward,  the  2d  and  4th 
Virginia  on  the  right,  the  5th  and  27th  on  the  left,  toward  the 
river,  they  immediately  became  a  target  for  the  Federal  batteries 
near  the  Lewis  house,  which  swept  the  plateau  in  front  and  the 
field  over  which  the  Virginians  were  advancing,  with  a  storm 
of  shell.  General  Winder  immediately  brought  forward  hia. 
own  batteries,  and  posted  Captain  Poague,  with  two  Parrott  guns, 
on  the  left  of  the  road,  with  orders  to  open  on  the  Federal  artil- 
lery, and,  if  possible,  silence  it.  Captain  Carpenter  was  also, 
sent  to  the  right  with  similar  orders ;  but  the  dense  under- 
growth upon  the  ridge  rendering  it  impossible  to  drag  the  guns 
through  it,  he  returned  to  the  left  and  cooperated  with  Poague. 
A  rapid  and  determined  fire  was  now  opened  from  the  Southern 
guns,  but  their  adversaries  had  the  advantage  in  position  and 
weight  of  metal.  The  Federal  artillery  opposed  to  Poague  con-, 
sisted  of  three  guns  from  Captain  Clark's  battery,  three  from 
Captain  Huntington's,  and  one  of  Captain  Robinson's,  nearly  all 
rifles.*  It  was  soon  obvious  that  the  Confederate  batteries  were, 
no  match  for  those  of  the  enemy,  and  Winder  determined  to 
stop  this  long-range  engagement,  and  charge  the  Federal  artil- 
lery with  his  infantry.  At  the  word,  his  brigade,  now  reenforced 
by  the  7th  Louisiana,  under  Colonel  Harry  Hays,  advanced  at  a 
double  quick  ;  but  encountering  a  fire  of  shell,  canister,  and  small-, 
arms  so  heavy  and  murderous  that  nothing  could  stand  before 
it,  the  men  fell  back  in  disorder,  and  Winder  was  forced  to, 
abandon  his  design. 

This  first  repulse  gave  the  enemy  renewed  spirit,  and  they 
now  rushed  forward  and  made  a  vigorous  attack  upon  the. 
brigade,  which  retired  before  them.  Jackson's  artillery  was, 
in  consequence,  obliged  to  retreat  in  haste  from  its  position,, 
and  the  ground  which  his  lines  had  occupied  was  now  in  pos-, 
session  of  the  Federal  forces.  They  continued  to  push  theu; 

*  Report  of  General  Tyler. 


188  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

advantage  and  press  forward  against  the  reinforcements  hurried 
to  the  front.  The  54th  and  58th  Virginia,  directed  by  Genera] 
Ewell,  and  led  by  Colonel  Scott,  made  a  determined  attack  upon 
the  flank  of  the  advancing  line,  and  for  a  short  time  held  it  in 
check ;  but  they  were  outnumbered  by  their  opponents,  whose 
attack  was  supported  by  a  hot  fire  of  artillery,  and  were  finally 
compelled  to  retire  into  the  woods,  with  the  loss  of  one  of  Cap- 
tain Poague's  six-pounders,  and  a  considerable  number  of  men. 

This  inauspicious  commencement  of  the  action  was  disheart- 
ening, but  a  new  aspect  was  speedily  given  to  the  face  of  affairs. 
Jackson  soon  perceived  that  the  wooded  ridge  near  the  Lewis 
house,  on  the  Federal  left,  was  the  key  of  the  whole  position,  and 
that,  unless  the  artillery  there  posted  was  captured  or  silenced, 
it  would  continue  to  sweep  the  entire  ground  in  front,  and  render 
an  attack  upon  the  Federal  centre  or  right  wing  impossible.  But 
any  attempt  to  take  the  guns  seemed  desperate.  They  were  on 
commanding  ground,  supported  by  a  heavy  force  of  infantry, 
and  the  charge  must  be  made  in  the  face  of  a  "  fire  of  hell." 
Jackson  pat  on  his  horse,  looking  at  the  guns  belching  forth 
their  showers  of  iron  hail,  and  then,  turning  to  General  Taylor, 
who  was  near  him,  said  briefly,  "Can  you  take  that  battery r 
It  must  be  taken."  Taylor  galloped  back  to  his  brigade,  and 
pointing  with  his  sword  to  the  enemy's  guns,  called  out  in  a 
voice  which  rang  like  a  clarion,  "  Louisianians !  can  you  take 
that  battery  ?  "  The  answer  was  a  deafening  shout,  and,  placing 
himself  at  the  head  of  the  column,  Taylor  gave  the  order  to 
charge  the  guns. 

The  men  swept  forward  at  the  word.  They  were  the  6th, 
7th,  8th,  and  9th  Louisiana,  Wheat's  battalion  of  "  Tigers,"  and 
a  Virginia  regiment.  The  ground  over  which  they  moved  was 
on  the  acclivity  of  the  mountain,  and  they  were  obliged  to  pene- 
trate a  rough  and  tangled  forest,  which  it  was  almost  impossible 
to  pierce.  But  nothing  could  oppose  the  ardor  of  the  men  ;  they 
rushed  forward  with  ranks  broken  by  the  inequality  of  the 
ground,  and  at  that  moment  the  loud  cheering  of  the  enemy  or« 
the  left  indicated  their  entire  success  in  that  portion  of  the  field 


PORT   REPUBLIC.  189 

A  response  came  from  the  right.  It  was  Taylor's  Louisianians, 
who  had  re-formed  their  broken  ranks,  emerged  from  the  woods, 
and  now  charged  across  the  low  grounds  in  front  of  the  Federal 
batteries  with  deafening  cheers.  The  low  grounds  were  passed  ; 
they  were  now  ascending  the  slope.  As  they  did  so,  the  Federal 
batteries  directed  upon  them  their  most  fatal  thunders.  The 
advance  was  made,  says  an  eye-witness,  in  the  midst  of  "  one 
incessant  storm  of  grape,  canister,  and  shell,  literally  covering 
the  valley."  The  men  were  mowed  down  like  grass — dead  and 
wounded  were  seen  on  every  side ;  but  the  Louisiana  Brigade 
still  rushed  on,  determined  to  take  the  battery  or  die  in  front  of 
it.  The  Federal  guns  were  loaded  and  fired  with  extraordinary 
rapidity,  and  the  wails  of  agony  from  men  torn  to  pieces  by 
fragments  of  iron,  mingled  wildly  with  the  loud  shouts  of  triumph 
as  the  troops  still  continued  to  press  on  up  the  hill.  All  at  once, 
to  the  raking  fire  of  canister  from  the  Federal  artillery  was 
added  a  destructive  fire  from  their  infantry.  The  enemy's  3d 
brigade,  under  General  Tyler,  which  was  posted  in  the  rear 
and  on  the  flanks  of  the  batteries,  opened  a  determined  fire,  and 
men  and  officers  went  down  before  it  in  one  indiscriminate  mass. 
Colonel  Hays,  of  the  7th  Louisiana,  fell  severely  wounded.  His 
lieutenant-colonel,  De  Choiseul,  was  shot  through  the  lungs,  and, 
while  waving  his  sword,  staggered  aod  fell  insensible,  and  was 
borne  from  the  field.  Of  308  men  of  the  regiment  who  went 
into  the  charge,  158  were  either  killed  or  wounded.  The  troops, 
however,  continued  to  rush  forward,  regardless  of  peril ;  for  an 
instant  the  gun-muzzles  belched  their  iron  contents  in  their  faces, 
and  then  the  crest  was  attained  ;  with  loud  cheers  the  Confeder- 
ates came  in  contact  with  the  enemy.  As  the  cannoneers  turned 
to  fly,  many  were  transfixed  with  the  bayonet,  the  horses  wer» 
shot,  and  the  guns  were  turned  upon  the  retreating  infantry. 

But  the  struggle  was  not  over.  It  was  absolutely  necessary 
for  the  Federal  commander  to  recover,  if  possible,  the  lost  ground. 
For  that  battery  to  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  Southerners,  was 
to  lose  possession  of  the  ridge — to  lose  the  day — to  be  defeated, 
and  driven  from  the  field.  Heavy  reinforcements  were  hurried 


390  LITE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

forward  ;  a  fresh  brigade  took  the  place  of  that  which  had  been 
repulsed,  and  a  gallant  charge  was  made  to  regain  the  guns. 
The  Louisianians  were  in  turn  driven  back  by  the  destructive 
fire  poured  upon  them,  and  the  enemy  dashed  forward  and  re- 
covered the  pieces.  But  before  they  could  be  turned  upon  them, 
the  Confederates  again  charged,  and  a  second  time  drove  the 
Federal  troops  from  the  guns.  The  battery  was  thus  three  times 
lost  and  won  in  the  determined  effort  on  the  part  of  the  Louisi- 
anians and  the  best  troops  of  the  enemy,  concentrated  in  this 
part  of  the  field,  to  recover  the  guns  and  hold  the  ridge.  Vic- 
tory finally  decided  for  the  Confederates.  The  enemy  were 
driven  back  ;  the  guns  were  again  turned  on  them  with  destruc- 
tive effect,  and  the  Confederate  lines  continued  to  advance. 

Taylor  had  won  the  position  on  the  ridge,  after  a  heavy  loss, 
but  he  could  not  hold  it,  and  he  could  not  be  reenforced.  Gen- 
eral Shields  was  pressing  the  Confederate  left  wing  with  such 
heavy  masses,  that  all  their  disposable  force  was  necessary  in 
that  portion  of  the  field.  His  heavy  reserves  were  now  brought 
«p  and  thrown  upon  Taylor — a  fresh  brigade  advancing  rapidly 
and  attacking  the  latter  in  flank,  while  a  piece  of  artillery,  which 
had  been  posted  within  three  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  opened  a 
galling  fire  of  canister  on  his  front.  Under  this  combined  attack 
Taylor  was  compelled  to  fall  back  to  the  skirt  of  woods  neai 
which  the  captured  battery  was  stationed,  and  from  that  point 
continued  his  fire  upon  the  advancing  enemy.  They  had  now 
reenforced  their  left  by  withdrawing  troops  from  their  centre, 
and  Taylor  was  in  imminent  danger  of  being  outflanked  and 
enveloped  by  the  enemy.  They  made  a  determined  effort  to 
turn  his  left  flank,  which  forced  him  to  fall  back  ;  and  in  the 
haste  of  this  movement  they  recaptured  one  of  the  guns,  though 
without  the  caisson  or  limber.  But  this  advantage  over  Taylor 
had  only  been  gained  by  dangerously  weakening  the  Federal 
right  wing  and  centre.  Winder  had  now  rallied  his  brigade, 
and,  placing  the  batteries  of  Poague  and  Chew  in  position,  opened 
a  hot  fire  on  the  Federal  left.  The  batteries  of  Brockenbrough, 
Courtney,  and  Raines  were  also  hurried  forward ;  and  with 


PORT   REPUBLIC.  191 

these  guns  pouring  a  destructive  fire  into  their  centre,  the  Fed- 
eral lines  began  visibly  to  waver. 

Jackson  saw  his  advantage,  and  now  made  a  corresponding 
movement  to  that  of  the  Federal  commander,  rapidly  throwing 
his  left  wing  to  the  support  of  his  right.  Colonel  Connor's  bri- 
gade arrived  first,  and,  thus  reenforced,  Taylor  turned  savagely 
upon  his  assailants  and  forced  them  back.  This  was  the  deci- 
sive moment  of  the  battle,  and  Jackson's  generalship  secured  the 
result  at  which  he  aimed.  The  Confederate  lines  advanced  with 
loud  cheers,  a  roll  of  musketry  extended  from  end  to  end  of  the 
Jine,  and  into  the  Federal  right  flank  was  poured  a  rapid  fire 
from  the  artillery  of  General  Winder.  Before  this  hot  fire  in 
front  and  flank  the  Federal  lines  wavered  more  and  more,  and 
soon  they  were  seen  to  break  in  disorder.  The  next  moment 
saw  them  retreating,  panic-stricken,  from  the  field,  with  the  Con- 
federate infantry  pursuing  and  firing  upon  them  as  they  fell 
back.  The  infantry  and  artillery  continued  the  pursuit  for  five 
miles,  when  the  cavalry  took  it  up,  continuing  to  press  the  rear 
of  the  retreating  column.  One  piece  of  artillery,  about  800 
muskets,  and  450  prisoners  were  the  immediate  result  of  the 
action.  General  Shields  was  defeated. 

Whilst  the  forces  of  General  Shields  were  thus  in  full  retreat, 
General  Fremont  appeared  on  the  northern  bank  of  the  Shenan- 
doah,  and  is  said  to  have  been  furious  at  the  manner  in  which 
he  had  been  outwitted  and  General  Shields  defeated.  The 
bridge  over  the  river  had  been  burned  when  Trimble  and  Patton 
retreated ;  and  as  the  Shenandoah  was  greatly  swollen,  it  was' 
utterly  impossible  for  General  Fremont  to  come  to  the  assistance 
of  his  coadjutor.  He  was  compelled  to  look  on  while  General 
Shields  was  being  defeated  ;  to  witness  his  rout,  and  to  observe 
every  circumstance  attending  the  pursuit.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
General  Fremont  did  not  direct  the  artillery  fire  which  now  took 
place  upon  the  ambulances  full  of  wounded,  and  the  parties  of  men 
engaged  in  burying  the  Federal  as  well  as  the  Confederate  dead. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Cameron,  chaplain  of  the  1st  Maryland  regiment, 
was  standing  near  a  row  of  graves  in  which  the  Federal  dead 


192  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

were  being  laid,  and,  with  prayer-book  in  hand,  was  reading  the 
burial  service  over  them,  when  General  Fremont's  artillery 
threw  shell  into  the  group,  forced  the  men  to  drop  the  dead 
bodies  they  were  carrying  to  the  graves,  and  Mr.  Cameron  to 
abandon  his  religious  services.  On  the  next  morning  General 
Fremont  retreated,  and  Colonel  Munford,  pushing  forward  with 
his  cavalry  to  Harrisonburg,  captured  about  200  men,  many  of 
them  severely  wounded,  several  Federal  surgeons,  about  200 
arms,  many  wagons,  and  a  considerable  amount  of  camp  equipage 
and  medical  stores. 

In  the  battles  of  Port  Republic,  Cross  Keys,  and  the  skirmish 
in  which  Ashby  fell,  the  Confederate  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing  was  1,096.  No  estimate  was  made  of  the  Federal  losses, 
but  as  a  defeated  force  generally  loses  more  heavily  than  its  ad- 
versary, the  Federal  casualties  were  probably  greater.  Jackson 
took  975  prisoners,  about  1,000  small-arms,  and  7  pieces  of 
artillery,  with  caissons  and  limbers.  One  piece  of  artillery,  from 
Poague's  battery,  was  captured  and  carried  off  by  the  enemy. 

The  battle  of  Port  Republic  was  one  of  the  most  sanguinary 
of  the  war.  It  was  fought  by  Federal  troops  from  the  North- 
western States  chiefly,  the  best  in  their  army ;  and  riding  over 
the  field  after  the  battle,  Jackson  said  :  "  I  never  saw  so  many 
dead  in  such  a  small  space,  in  all  my  life  before  !  "  The  slaugh- 
ter was  indeed  terrible.  The  Confederate  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  was  nearly  one  thousand  men — for  the  losses  in  the 
preceding  engagements  were  very  slight ;  the  Federal  loss  was 
probably  greater.  The  Southerners  fired  low  and  fatally.  A 
Northern  correspondent,  writing  from  the  hospitals  of  Front 
Royal,  said :  "  It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  the  majority  are 
wounded  in  the  legs  or  lower  part  of  the  body.  One  of  the  men 
remarked,  '  They  fired  over  our  heads  at  Winchester,  but  they 
fired  under  them  this  time  ! ' "  Where  the  obstinate  charge  upon 
the  Federal  batteries  took  place,  the  ground  was  strewn  with 
the  dead  and  dying.  Thus,  in  the  mere  amount  of  blood  that 
was  shed,  the  battle  of  Port  Republic  was  remarkable  and  mem- 
orable ;  but  this  is  the  least  of  its  grounds  to  be  ranked  among 


JACKSON   IN  JUNE,    1662.  193 

the  famous  conflicts  of  the  late  revolution  in  Virginia.  It  was 
the  final  and  decisive  blow  struck  at  the  Federal  campaign  in 
the  Valley.  It  crushed,  inexorably,  in  a  few  short  hours,  the 
hopes  and  aspirations  of  the  two  leaders  who  had  so  long  and 
persistently  followed  Jackson.  It  disembarrassed  the  Confeder- 
ate commander  of  his  adversaries  in  that  direction,  and  enabled 
him  to  make  his  swift  march  against  the  right  flank  of  General 
McClellan  on  the  Chickahominy. 

It  was  the  successful  termination  of  a  series  of  manoeuvres, 
•which  bear  upon  their  face  the  unmistakable  impress  of  military 
genius.  From  the  moment  when,  arriving  at  the  town  of  Port 
Republic,  Jackson  determined  to  retreat  no  further,  but  turn  and 
fight,  his  strategy  was  admirable.  Up  to  that  time,  the  sharp 
claws  of  Ashby  had  drawn  blood  at  every  step  as  he  retired  ;  but 
there  the  tiger  crouched,  ready  to  spring.  He  only  did  so  when 
the  prey  was  within  his  reach.  The  blow  delivered  at  Crosa 
Keys  was  followed  by  the  more  decisive  affair  at  Port  Republic  ; 
and  after  that  sanguinary  contest  General  Fremont  had  no 
longer  the  ability  to  assume  an  offensive  attitude.  He  retired 
from  the  conflict,  abandoned  any  further  struggle,  and  his  victor 
remained  master  of  the  field.  Jackson's  despatch  announcing 
his  victory  was  in  the  following  words  : 

NEAR  PORT  REPUBLIC,  June  9th,  VIA  STAUNTON,  June  10th. 
Through  God's  blessing,  the  enemy  near  Port  Republic  was  this  day  routed, 
with  the  loss  of  six  pieces  of  his  artillery. 

T.  J.  JACKSON,  Major-General  commanding. 


CHAPTER  XVIH. 

JACKSON    IN    JUNE,    1862. 

AT  sunset  on  the  9th  of  June,  1862,  the  campaign  of  the  Val- 
ley had  terminated.  It  had  commenced  in  earnest  on  the  llth 
of  March,  when  Winchester  was  evacuated,  and  ended  on  the 
day  of  Port  Republic,  when  Jackson  had  defeated  his  adversaries 
.and  remained  iu  possession  of  the  field. 
13 


194  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

The  reader  has  had  the  events  of  the  campaign  narrated ;, 
what  now  rose  above  the  smoke,  dust,  and  blood  of  so  many 
battle-fields,  was,  Banks,  Shields,  Milroy,  Fremont,  with  Blen- 
ker,  Sigel,  Steinwehr,  and  other  able  soldiers  defeated,  and  the 
whole  upper  Valley  regained.  In  three  months  Jackson  had 
marched  600  miles,  fought  four  pitched  battles,  seven  minor  en- 
gagements, and  daily  skirmishes  ;  had  defeated  four  armies  ; 
captured  7  pieces  of  artillery,  10,000  stand  of  arms,  4,000  pris- 
oners, and  a  very  great  amount  of  stores — inflicting  upon  his  ad- 
versaries a  known  loss  of  2,000  men  ;  with  a  loss  upon  his  own 
part  comparatively  small,  and  amounting  in  arms  to  but  one 
piece  of  artillery  abandoned  for  want  of  horses,  and  a  small1 
number  of  muskets. 

The  military  results,  in  their  bearing  upon  the  whole  field  of 
contest,  had  been  very  great.  At  an  important  crisis  in  the 
history  of  the  struggle,  Jackson  had  intervened  with  his  small 
army,  and,  by  his  skill,  endurance,  and  enterprise  thrown  the 
whole  programme  of  the  enemy  into  confusion/  Their  design  of 
combining  three  heavy  columns  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond 
had  been  frustrated  by  his  daring  advance  down  the  Valley  ;  all 
the  campaign  halted  for  the  moment ;  and  Fremont  and  Mc- 
Dowell were  not  only  crippled  for  the  time,  but  their  dangerous 
adversary  was  in  a  condition  to  unite  his  forces  with  those  of 
General  Johnston,  and  make  that  sudden  attack  on  the  Chicka~ 
hominy  which  led  to  such  important  results. 

Jackson's  campaign  in  the  Valley  will  always  attract  the  at- 
tention of  military  men,  and  be  studied  by  them  as  a  great  prac- 
tical exposition  of  the  art  of  making  war.  The  swift  and  sudden 
marches  ;  the  rapid  advances  and  successful  retreats  ;  the  furious 
onslaughts  indicating  apparent  recklessness,  and  the  obstinate- 
refusal,  on  other  occasions,  to  fight,  from  seeming  timidity — these 
communicate  to  the  campaign  in  question  a  vivid  interest  unsur- 
passed in  the  annals  of  the  entire  war.  Looking  back  over  the- 
almost  incessant  movements  ot  three  months,  it  is  difficult  to  dis- 
cover any  error  in  Jackson's  operations.  We  have  shown  that 
he  attacked  at  Kernstown  from  inaccurate  information;,  but 


JACKSON   IN   JUNE,    1862.  195 

that  information  was  furnished  by  Ashby,  the  most  enterprising 
and  reliable  of  partisans ;  and  the  result  of  the  battle,  as  the 
reader  has  seen,  was  exactly  what  Jackson  designed.  More 
than  25,000  troops  were  diverted  from  the  attack  on  Richmond — 
and  this  great  result  had  been  attained  by  a  force  of  about  4,000, 
of  whom  less  than  3,000  were  engaged.  In  regard  to  the  suc- 
cess which  had  attended  the  remainder  of  the  campaign,  there 
could  be  no  difference  of  opinion.  The  battle  of  McDowell  per- 
manently checked  the  advance  of  General  Milroy  from  the  west ; 
the  advance  upon  General  Banks  drove  that  commander  precipi- 
tately across  the  Potomac ;  and  the  retreat  of  Jackson  in  conse- 
quence of  the  movements  of  Fremont  and  Shields  against  his 
rear  at  Strasburg,  was  a  complete  success.  He  brought  off  all 
his  captured  stores  and  prisoners ;  outmarched  the  two  columns 
following  him  ;  and  finally,  by  a  strategy  as  successful  as  it  was 
daring,  fought  them  in  detail  at  Cross  Keys  and  Port  Republic, 
and  defeated  both.  From  that  moment  Jackson  was  master  of 
the  situation,  and  could  look  with  a  grim  smile  toward  his  re- 
treating adversaries. 

This  campaign  made  the  fame  of  Jackson  as  a  commander. 
In  the  operations  of  March  to  June,  in  the  Valley,  he  had  dis- 
played his  great  faculties  fully — his  far-seeing  generalship,  his 
prudent  boldness,  and  that  indomitable  resolution  and  tenacity 
of  purpose  which  no  storm  could  shake.  Under  the  quiet  and 
unpretending  exterior  was  a  soul  which  was  not  born  to  bend, 
and  a  will  which  broke  down  every  obstacle  in  the  path  of  its 
possessor.  The  rumor  of  his  rapid  movements  and  constant 
successes  came  like  a  wind  from  the  mountains  to  the  Confed- 
erate capital,  and  infused  fresh  life  into  the  languid  pulses  and 
desponding  hearts  of  the  people.  This  will  be  remembered  by 
many  readers  of  these  pages.  The  performer  of  these  great 
achievements  began  to  be  looked  upon  as  the  "  Man  of  Fate," 
whose  mission  was  to  overthrow  all  Federal  generals  who  were 
opposed  to  him.  His  military  traits  were  the  common  talk  and 
ftdmiration  ;  his  astonishing  equanimity  in  the  face  of  peril ;  his 
coo!  determination  not  to  yield ;  his  refusal  to  entertain  the  idea 


L9G  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

that  he  could  be  defeated ;  and  the  belief  that,  with  his  men,  he 
could  go  anywhere  and  achieve  any  thing.  The  South  had  found 
a  military  hero  in  the  quiet  soldier  who  concealed  under  his  face 
of  bronze  such  wonderful  faculties.  In  June,  1862,  Jackson 
was  already  the  idol  of  the  popular  heart ;  and  this  was  the 
result  of  his  campaign  in  the  Valley. 

The  fate  of  that  region  was  now  settled  for  the  time,  and  the 
victor  of  Port  Republic  was  called  upon  to  enter,  without  paus- 
ing, upon  another  struggle,  on  a  new  arena.  The  Valley  was 
exhausted  ;  every  portion  of  its  highways  and  by-ways  had  been 
trodden  by  the  "  Foot  Cavalry,"  until  they  knew  and  attached 
sad  or  pleasant  recollections — memories  of  fatigue  and  suffering, 
or  of  rest  and  refreshment — to  every  stone,  and  bank,  and 
spreading  tree  upon  the  roadside  ;  *  the  mountains  must  now  be 
left  behind,  and  the  army  must  set  out  for  fresh  fields  of  combat 
in  the  lowland.  Before  proceeding  with  our  narrative,  however, 
we  shall  give  a  brief  outline  of  Jackson  as  he  appeared  at  this 
time,  all  covered  with  the  dust  of  the  arena  upon  which  the 
famous  athlete  had  overthrown  Banks,  Fremont,  and  their  asso- 
ciates. The  popular  idea  of  a  general  is  a  finely-dressed  indi- 
vidual, covered  with  braid,  mounted  upon  a  prancing  charger, 
and  followed  by  a  numerous  and  glittering  staff.  The  personal 
appearance  and  equipments  of  Jackson  were  in  entire  contrast 
to  this  popular  fancy.  He  wore,  at  this  time,  an  old  sun-em- 
browned coat  of  gray  cloth,  originally  a  very  plain  one,  and  now 
almost  out  at  elbows.  To  call  it  sun-embrowned,  however,  is 
scarcely  to  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the  extent  of  its  dis- 
coloration. It  had  that  dingy  hue,  the  result  of  exposure  to 
rain  and  snow  and  scorching  sunshine  which  is  so  unmistakable. 
[t  was  plain  that  the  General  had  often  stretched  his  weary 

*  So  numerous  were  Jackson's  marches  backward  and  forward  over  the 
Valley  turnpike,  that  his  men  came  to  'know,  and  would  afterwards  recognize 
the  most  insignificant  objects.  "  There  is  the  very  stone  I  sat  down  on  in 
May,  '62,"  said  one  of  his  old  brigade  with  whom  the  writer  rode  over  this 
ground ;  and,  going  a  little  further,  he  added :  "  I  remember  perfectly  lying 
down  under  that  tree  yonder." 


JACKSON   IN  JUNE,   1862.  197 

form  upon  the  bare  ground,  and  slept  in  the  old  coat ;  and  it 
seemed  to  have  brought  away  with  it  no  little  of  the  dust  of  the 
Valley.  A  holiday  soldier  would  have  disdained  to  wear  such 
a  garb  ;  but  the  men  of  the  Stonewall  Brigade,  with  their  com- 
rades, loved  that  coat,  and  admired  it  and  its  owner  more  than 
all  the  holiday  uniforms  and  holiday  warriors  in  the  world.  The 
remainder  of  the  General's  costume  was  as  much  discolored  as  the 
coat ;  he  wore  cavalry  boots  reaching  to  the  knee,  and  his  head 
was  surmounted  by  an  old  cap,  more  faded  than  all ;  the  sun  had 
turned  it  quite  yellow,  indeed,  and  it  tilted  forward  so  far  over 
the  wearer's  forehead,  that  he  was  compelled  to  raise  his  chin  in 
the  air  in  order  to  look  under  the  rim.  His  horse  was  not  a 
''  fiery  steed,"  pawing,  and  ready  to  dart  forward  at  "  thunder 
of  the  captains  and  the  shouting,"  but  an  old  raw-boned  sorrel, 
gaunt  and  grim — a  horse  of  astonishing  equanimity,  who  seemed 
to  give  himself  no  concern  on  any  subject — would  quietly  lie 
down  to  doze  in  the  pauses  of  the  firing,  and  calmly  moved 
about,  like  his  master,  careless  of  cannon-ball  or  bullet,  in  the 
hottest  moments  of  battle. 

The  General  rode  in  a  peculiar  fashion,  leaning  forward 
somewhat,  and  apparently  -unconscious  that  he  was  in  the  sad- 
dle. His  air  was  singularly  abstracted ;  and,  unless  aware  of 
his  identity,  no  beholder  would  have  dreamed  that  this  plainly- 
clad  and  absent-looking  soldier  was  the  leader  of  a  Corps 
d'Armte.  The  glittering  eye  beneath  the  yellow  cap  would 
have  altered  somewhat  the  impression  that  this  man  was  "  E 
nobody  ; "  btit  beyond  this  there  was  absolutely  nothing  in  the 
appearance  of  General  Jackson  to  indicate  his  great  rank  or 
genius  as  a  soldier. 

Such  was  the  outward  man  of  the  General,  as  he  appeared 
soon  after  the  campaign  of  the  Valley ;  and  this  plainness  of 
exterior  had  in  no  small  degree  endeared  him  to  his  soldiers. 
His  habits  were  still  greater  claims  on  the  respect  and  regard 
of  the  best  men  of  his  command.  He  was  known  to  be  wholly 
free  from  all  those  vices  which  are  the  peculiar  temptation  of  a 
military  life.  He  lived  as  plainly  as  his  men,  and  shared  all 


198  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

their  hardships,  never  for  a  moment  acting  upon  the  hypothesis 
that  his  rank  entitled  him  to  any  luxury  or  comfort  which  they 
could  not  share.  His  food  was  plain  and  simple  ;  his  tent,  when 
he  had  one,  which  was  seldom,  no  better  than  those  of  the  men  ; 
he  would  wrap  himself  in  his  blankets  and  lie  down  under  a 
tree  or  in  a  fence  corner,  with  perfect  content,  and  apparently 
from  preference  ;  for  to  fight  hard  and  live  hard  seemed  to  be 
his  theory  of  war.  He  rarely  allowed  passion  to  conquer  him  ; 
when  he  yielded,  it  was  on  exciting  occasions,  and  when  great 
designs  were  thwarted  by  negligence  or  incapacity  on  the  part 
of  those  to  whom  their  execution  was  intrusted.  Such  occasions 
seldom  occurred,  and  Jackson's  habitual  temper  of  mind  was  a 
gentle  and  childlike  sweetness  ;  a  simplicity  and  purity  of  heart, 
which  proved  that  he  had  indeed  become  "  as  a  little  child," 
walking  humbly  and  devoutly  before  his  God.  Prayer  was  like 
breathing  with  him — the  normal  condition  of  his  being.  Every 
morning  he  read  his  Bible  and  prayed ;  and  the  writer  will  not 
soon  forget  the  picture  drawn  by  one  of  his  distinguished  asso- 
ciates, who  rode  to  his  headquarters  at  daylight  in  November, 
1862,  when  the  army  was  falling  back  to  Fredericksburg  from 
the  Valley,  and  found  him  reading  his  Testament,  quietly  in  his 
tent — an  occupation  which  he  only  interrupted  to  describe,  in 
tones  of  quiet  simplicity,  his  intended  movements  to  foil  the 
enemy.  Before  sitting  down  to  table,  he  raised  both  hands  and 
said  grace.  When  he  contemplated  any  movement,  his  old  ser- 
vant is  said  to  have  always  known  it  by  his  "  wrestling  in 
prayer "  for  many  hours  of  the  night ;  and  on  the  battle-field 
thousands  noticed  the  singular  gesture  with  the  right  arm, 
sometimes  both  arms,  raised  aloft.  Those  who  looked  closely 
at  him  at  such  moments  saw  his  lips  moving  in  prayer. 

This,  however,  is  not  the  place  for  a  personal  delineation  of 
Jackson,  which  is  reserved  for  a  subsequent  page.  Our  desire 
in  presenting  the  foregoing  brief  sketch  was  to  place  before  the 
reader's  eye,  so  to  speak,  the  figure  of  the  chief  actor  in  the 
stirring  scenes  which  we  now  approach.  The  present  writer 


JACKSON   IN   JUNE,   1862.  199 

first  saw  General  Jackson  on  the  field  of  Cold  Harbor,  and  the 
above  is  a  correct  transcript  of  his  appearance. 

It  seemed  hard  to  realize  that  the  plainly-dressed,  awkward- 
looking  person  on  the  gaunt  sorrel  horse,  with  the  faded  cap  and 
the  abstracted  air,  was  the  soldier  who  had  foiled  every  adver- 
sary, and  won  at  Port  Republic  those  laurels  which  time  cannot 
wither. 


PART  III. 

FKOM  POET  REPUBLIC  TO   CHANCELLOESVILLE. 
CHAPTER  I. 

"GENERAL  T.  J.   JACKSON,  SOMEWHERE." 

IN  the  latter  part  of  June,  1862,  the  writer  of  these  pages 
was  intrusted,  for  delivery  to  a  confidential  messenger,  with  a 
despatch  addressed  u  General  T.  J.  Jackson,  somewhere." 

"  Somewhere  "  was  at  that  moment,  as  it  had  been  on  many 
other  occasions,  the  only  known  address  of  the  rapidly-moving 
and  reticent  commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Valley.  When  he 
was  executing  one  of  his  great  movements,  his  operations  were 
conducted  with  such  secrecy  that  the  troops  used  to  say,  "  Jack- 
son is  lost."  Let  us  tell  how  he  became  "  lost "  upon  this  occa- 
sion, and  how  he  reached  the  unknown  address  of  "  somewhere." 

The  battle  of  Port  Republic  was  fought  on  the  9th  of  June, 
•and  on  the  12th  Jackson  recrossed  South  River  and  encamped 
near  Weyer's  Cave.  "  For  the  purpose  of  rendering  thanks  to 
God  for  having  crowned  our  arms  with  success,"  he  says  in  his 
report,  "  and  to  implore  His  continual  favor,  divine  service  was 
held  in  the  army  on  the  14th." 

The  troops  were  resting ;  Jackson  was  dreaming  of  an  ad- 
vance into  Pennsylvania.  We  have  said  that,  in  spite  of  his  dis- 


"GENERAL  T.  j.  JACKSON,  SOMEWHERE."          201 

appointment  in  the  autumn  of  1861,  the  project  of  invading  the. 
North  recurred  to  him  after  every  great  success  of  the  Southern 
army ;  and  a  remarkable  proof  of  the  truth  of  this  statement 
was  at  this  time  presented.  So  strong  was  his  feeling  on  the 
subject  DOW,  that  he,  the  most  reticent  and  cautious  of  com- 
manders, could  not  withhold  some  intimation  of  his  views.  To. 
a  confidential  friend,  on  whose  prudence  he  knew  he  could  rely, 
he  said  at  this  time  :  "  If  they  will  only  give  me  60,000  men 
now,  I  will  go  right  on  to  Pennsylvania.  I  will  not  go  down 
the  Valley ;  I  do  not  wish  the  people  there  to  be  harassed.  I 
will  go  with  40,000  if  the  President  will  give  them  to  me,  and  my 
route  will  be  along  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  I  ought  not  to  have 
told  even  you  that ;  but  in  two  weeks  I  could  be  at  Harrisburg." 
The  route  here  indicated  was  nearly  identical  with  that  which 
General  Lee  afterward  followed  in  advancing  to  Gettysburg. 
It  is  left  to  the  military  student  to  determine  whether  a  column 
of  40,000  men  penetrating  toward  the  heart  of  the  North,  and 
threatening  Washington,  would  not  have  induced  a  withdrawal 
of  the  forces  before  Richmond  for  the  defence  of  the  Federal 
capital.  But  this  policy,  if  it  was  urged  upon  the  Confederate 
authorities,  was  not  adopted.  It  was  determined  to  concentrate 
all  the  troops  near  Richmond  for  a  sudden  attack  upon  General 
McClellan,  and  the  movements  looking  to  this  object  had  already 
begun.  On  the  llth  of  June  Whiting's  division  was  embarked 
on  the  cars  of  the  Danville  Railroad  at  Richmond,  and  moved 
across  the  James  to  Manchester,  opposite  Belle  Isle,  where,  at 
that  moment,  a  large  number  of  Federal  prisoners  were  confined, 
but  about  to  be  released.  The  train  remained  opposite  the  island 
until  the  forenoon  of  the  next  day ;  and  the  public  were  much 
exercised  upon  the  subject  of  this  extraordinary  blunder,  as  the 
Federal  prisoners  about  to  be  sent  down  the  river  would  unques- 
tionably inform  General  McClellan  of  this  reenforcement  of 
Jackson.  The  train  at  last  departed,  however,  and  the  troops 
reached  Lynchburg,  where  they  remained  until  the  15th,  when 
they  were  moved  to  Charlottesville,  and  thence  on  the  18th  to, 
Staunton.  On  the  20th  they  were  mpved  Lack  to  Charlottesville 


202  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

Jackson  was  already  in  motion.  All  this  marching  and 
countermarching  had  its  object.  It  deceived  the  enemy,  who 
believed  that  the  Valley  was  alive  with  troops  moving  to  and 
fro,  and  preparing  for  a  great  advance  down  the  Valley  in  pur- 
suit of  Shields  and  Fremont.  Attention  was  thus  entirely  di- 
verted from  Richmond,  where  the  real  blow  was  to  be  struck. 

Jackson  omitted,  on  this  occasion,  none  of  those  precautions 
which  so  greatly  contributed  to  the  success  of  his  movements, 
and  which  justly  entitle  him  to  be  characterized  as  the  general 
who  "  never  made  a  mistake."  He  commenced  by  blinding 
those  around  him.  His  engineers  were  directed  to  prepare  im- 
mediately a  series  of  maps  of  the  Valley ;  and  all  who  acquired 
a  knowledge  of  this  carefully  divulged  order,  told  their  friends 
in  confidence  that  Jackson  was  going  at  once  in  pursuit  of  Fre- 
mont. As  those  friends  told  their  friends  without  loss  of  time, 
it  was  soon  the  well-settled  conviction  of  everybody  that  nothing 
was  further  from  Jackson's  intentions  than  an  evacuation  of  the 
Valley.  Having  deceived  his  friends,  the  Confederate  general 
proceeded  to  blind  his  enemies. 

On  the  16th  of  June  he  sent  a  note  to  Colonel  Munford,  who 
had  succeeded  Ashby  in  command  of  the  cavalry,  and  held  the 
front  toward  Harrisonburg,  to  "  meet  him  at  eleven  that  night 
at  the  head  of  the  street  at  Mount  Crawford,  and  not  to  ask  for 
him  or  anybody."  *  Mount  Crawford  is  a  small  village  on  the 

*  Colonel  Munford  had  already  received  the  following  instructions  : 

NEAR  MOUNT  MERIDIAN,  June  13th,  1862. 

COLONEL  :  It  is  important  to  cut  off  all  communications  between  us  and 
the  enemy.  Please  require  the  ambulances  to  go  beyond  our  lines  at  once, 
and  press  our  lines  forward  as  far  as  practicable.  It  is  desirable  that  we 
should  have  New  Market,  and  that  no  information  should  pass  to  the  enemy. 
I  expect  soon  to  let  you  have  two  more  companies  of  cavalry  for  the  Army  of 
the  Northwest.  I  will  not  be  able  to  leave  here  to-day,  and  possibly  not  for 
some  time,  so  you  must  look  out  for  the  safety  of  your  train.  Please  impress 
the  bearers  of  the  flag  of  truce  as  much  as  possible  with  an  idea  of  a  heavy  ad- 
vance on  our  part,  and  let  them  return  under  such  impression.  Whilst  it  is 
desirable  for  us  to  have  New  Market,  yet  you  must  judge  of  the  practicability. 
The  only  true  rule  for  cavalry,  is  to  follow  as  long  as  the  enemy  retreats  ;  bf»- 


"  GENERAL   T.    J.    JACKSON,    SOMEWHERE."  203 

Valley  turnpike,  about  eight  or  ten  miles  from  Port  Republic, 
and  tbe  same  distance  from  Harrisonburg.  Colonel  Munford 
received  the  note,  set  out  alone,  and,  at  the  appointed  hour,  en- 
tered Mount  Crawford,  which,  at  that  late  hour  of  the  night, 
looked  dark  and  deserted.  The  moon  was  shining,  however  ; 
and  at  the  head  of  the  street,  in  the  middle  of  the  highway,  a 
solitary  figure  on  horseback  awaited  him,  motionless,  and  in 
silence.  The  hand  of  the  figure  went  to  his  cap,  and  in  the  curt 
and  familiar  tones  of  Jackson  came  the  words  : 

"  Ah,  colonel,  here  you  are.     What  news  from  the  front?" 

"  All  quiet,  general,"  replied  Colonel  Munford. 

"  Good  !  Now  I  wish  you  to  produce  upon  the  enemy  the 
impression  that  I  am  going  to  advance." 

And  Jackson  then  gave  his  orders  in  detail,  after  which 
the  figures  parted  and  went  different  ways — Jackson  back  to 
Port  Republic,  Colonel  Munford  to  Harrisonburg.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  manner  in  which  Colonel  Munford  carried  out  his 
orders : 

At  Harrisonburg  were  a  number  of  Federal  surgeons,  who  had 
come  with  twenty-five  or  thirty  ambulances  to  carry  away  the 
wounded  officers  and  men  who  had  been  abandoned  at  that  point 
by  General  Fremont  in  his  retreat.  These  were  informed  by  Colo- 
nel Munford,  that  before  he  could  give  them  permission  to  do  so, 
he  must  ascertain  the  wishes  of  General  Jackson  ;  and  with  this 
reply  he  left  them,  to  carry  out  the  rest  of  the  scheme.  There 
was  attached  to  his  command,  as  an  independent,  a  well-known 
.gentleman  of  that  region  nametl  "William  Gilmer ;  and  to  -this 
gentleman,  ever  ready  for  a  good  practical  joke,  was  intrusted 

yond  that,  of  course,  you  can,  under  present  circumstances,  do  little  or  nothing ; 
but  every  mile  you  advance  will  probably  give  you  additional  prisoners,  and 
especially  as  far  as"  New  Market,  where  you  will  get  command  of  the  road 
from  Kernstown  and  Columbia  bridge.  I  congratulate  you  upon  your  continued 
success.  Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  J.  JACKSON,  Maj.-Gen. 

P.  S.  Press  our  lines  as  far  as  you  otherwise  would  have  done,  before  the 
flag  of  truce  is  permitted  to  pass  them.  T.  J.  J. 


204  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

the  execution  of  the  plot.  The  Federal  surgeons  occupied  an 
apartment  next  to  the  room  used  by  Colonel  Munford  for  his 
headquarters,  and  only  a  thin  partition  divided  them.  Every 
word  uttered  in  one  room  could  be  heard  in  the  other ;  and  this 
fact  was  well  known  to  Colonel  Munford,  who  gave  Mr.  Gil- 
mer  his  instructions  in  a  loud  tone,  despatched  him  apparently 
to  General  Jackson,  and  then  awaited  the  issue  of  his  scheme. 

Some  hours  having  elapsed  since  they  had  been  assured  that 
General  Jackson's  wishes  would  be  ascertained,  the  surgeons 
all  at  once  heard  a  courier  mounting  the  stairs,  his  spurs  and 
sabre  clanking  as  he  ascended.  They  moved  quickly  to  the 
partition,  and  placed  their  ears  close  to  the  cracks — as  it  was 
expected  they  would.  The  courier  entered ;  the  surgeons  bent 
lower,  and  determined  not  to  lose  a  word. 

"  Well,"  said  Colonel  Munford,  in  a  voice  which  he  knew 
could  be  heard,  "  what  does  General  Jackson  say?" 

"  He  told  me  to  tell  you,"  replied  Mr.  Gilmer,  in  his  loud  and 
sonorous  voice,  "  that  the  wounded  Yankees  are  not  to  be  taken 
away ;  and  the  surgeons  are  to  be  sent  back,  with  the  message 
that  he  can  take  care  of  their  wounded  men  in  his  own  hospitals. 
He  is  coming  right  on,  himself,  with  heavy  reinforcements. 
Whiting's  division  is  up ;  Hood's  is  coming.  The  whole  road 
from  here  to  Staunton  is  perfectly  lined  with  troops,  and  so 
crowded  that  I  could  hardly  ride  along  !  " 

Such  was  the  highly  important  dialogue  which  the  Federal 
surgeons,  listening  with  breathless  attention,  overheard.  When 
Colonel  Munford  sent  for  them,  every  man  was  on  the  other  side 
of  the  room  from  the  partition.  They  were  ushered  in,  and 
briefly  informed  that  they  could  return  with  their  ambulances ; 
General  Jackson  had  instructed  him  to  say  that  their  wounded 
would  be  cared  for  in  the  Confederate  hospitals. 

The  surgeons  returned  without  delay,  communicated  the  im- 
portant intelligence  which  they  had  overheard  to  General  Fre- 
mont, and  that  night  the  whole  Federal  army  fell  back  to 
Strasburg,  where  they  began  to  intrench  against  the  anticipated 
attack. 


"  GENERAL   T.    J.    JACKSON,    SOMEWHERE."  205 

Jackson  was  meanwhile  on  his  way  to  the  Chickahominy. 
Such  were  the  results  of  the  nocturnal  interview  at  Mount  Craw- 
ford. Extraordinary  precautions  were  used  to  conceal  the  in- 
tended route  of  the  troops.  The  men  were  forbidden  even  to 
ask  the  names  of  the  villages  through  which  they  passed  ;  and 
orders  were  issued,  that  to  all  questions  they  should  make  but  one 
response  :  "  I  do  not  know."  "  This  was  just  as  much  license 
as  the  men  wanted,"  says  an  eye-witness,  "  and  they  forthwith 
knew  nothing  of  the  past,  present,  or  future."  An  amusing  inci- 
dent grew  out  of  this  order.  One  of  Hood's  men  left  the  ranks 
on  the  march,  and  was  climbing  a  fence  to  go  to  a  cherry-tree 
in  a  field  near  at  hand,  when  Jackson  rode  by  and  saw  him. 

"  Where  are  you  going?"  asked  the  General. 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  the  soldier. 

"  To  what  command  do  you  belong?" 

u  I  don't  know." 

"  Well,  what  State  are  you  from?" 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  ?  "  asked  Jackson  of  another. 

"  Well,"  was  the  reply,  "  Old  Stonewall  and  General  Hood 
issued  orders  yesterday,  that  we  were  not  to  know  any  thing 
until  after  the  next  fight."  Jackson  laughed,  and  rode  on.  The 
troops  had  been  moved  for  the  greater  part  of  the  way  by  rail- 
road ;  but  at  Frederick  Hall,  above  Hanover  Junction,  they  were 
disembarked,  and  "  moved  in  as  many  columns  as  there  were 
roads  ;  and  for  the  want  of  roads,  we  sometimes  marched  through 
fields  and  woods." 

On  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  June,  the  corps  was  rapidly 
"  closing  up,"  and  approaching  Ashland.  Jackson  had  gone  on 
in  advance,  and,  riding  through  Richmond,  visited  the  head- 
quarters of  General  Lee,  on  the  Nine-Mile  road.  Some  one 
recognized  him  as  he  passed,  incognito,  through  the  city,  and 
spoke  of  his  presence  ;  but  so  thoroughly  had  the  entire  move- 
ment been  concealed,  that  the  inquisitive  personage  was  told 
that  his  statement  was  all  nonsense,  as  General  Jackson  was 
then  beyond  the  Blue  Ridge. 


206  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

Having  ascertained  the  views  of  the  commanding  general  in 
detail,  Jackson  disappeared  as  quietly  as  he  came,  and  again 
took  the  head  of  his  advancing  column. 

"  Somewhere,"  was  the  neighborhood  of  Ashland,  upon  the 
Fredericksburg  Railroad,  about  sixteen  miles  from  Richmond. 


CHAPTER  II. 

ON    THE    CHICKAHOMINY. 

BURIED  in  the  tangled  undergrowth  on  the  shore  of  the 
Chickahominy,  the  Federal  army  had  no  suspicion  of  the  heavy 
blow  about  to  be  struck  at  them. 

General  McClellan  was  now  within  a  few  miles  of  Richmond, 
at  the  head  of  the  most  numerous  and  best  equipped  army  that 
had  ever  assembled  on  American  soil.  Every  resource  of  the 
Federal  Government  had  been  taxed  to  the  utmost,  to  render 
it  overwhelming  in  numbers,  and  invincible  in  all  the  appliances 
of  war.  More  than  150,000  troops  were  encamped  on  the  banks 
of  the  Chickahominy,  and  the  arsenals  and  machine-shops  of  the 
North  had  left  nothing  to  be  desired  in  their  armament  and  equip- 
ment for  the  great  struggle  before  them.  They  were  armed 
with  excellent  rifle-muskets,  and  the  cavalry  with  revolvers,  re- 
peating rifles,  and  carbines  of  the  best  pattern.  To  this  admira- 
ble armament  were  added  about  400  pieces  of  artillery,  ranging 
from  the  30-pound  Parrott  to  the  Navy  howitzer.  Such  were 
the  military  equipments  of  the  force  ;  the  appliances  for  personal 
comfort  were  as  excellent.  No  trouble  had  been  spared  to  make 
the  troops  contented  ;  and  that  profusion  of  delicacies  which  had 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  hungry  Confederates  at  Manassas, 
was  to  greet  their  eyes  again  in  the  abandoned  camps  on  the 
plains  of  New  Kent  and  Henrico. 

The  Federal  troops  seem  to  have  regarded  their  position  as 
unassailable — and  not  without  show  of  reason.  In  front  of  their 


ON   THE   CHICKAHOMINY.  207 

main  body  were  the  impassable  swamps  of  the  Chickahominy, 
and  on  each  side,  the  Pamunkey  and  the  James  enabled  their  gun 
boats,  mounted  with  artillery  of  the  heaviest  calibre,  to  guard  the 
approaches  to  their  flank.  In  their  rear  was  the  White  House, 
where  the  largest  steamers  came  to  unload  warlike  stores  or 
camp  delicacies  ;  and  from  this  point  the  York  River  Railroad 
ran  straight  to  the  centre  of  the  great  camp,  bringing  thus  to  the 
very  tents  all  which  the  cities  of  the  North  could  afford  for  the 
comfort  or  equipment  of  the  troops. 

Over  this  large  army,  as  we  have  seen,  was  placed  the 
ablest  and  most  accomplished  soldier  whom  the  North  had  yet 
produced ;  and  the  Federal  authorities  confidently  expected  to 
defeat  Lee  and  capture  Richmond. 

Let  us  look  back  at  the  ground  upon  which  this  bitter  and 
determined  conflict  was  now  to  take  place.  The  Chickahominy 
is  a  narrow  and  sluggish  stream,  which,  rising  northwest  of 
Richmond,  runs  in  a  southeastern  direction,  and,  holding  its 
course  down  the  Peninsula,  heads  to  the  south  and  empties  into 
James  River  some  distance  above  Williamsburg.  Its  banks 
are  swampy,  and  overgrown  with  forest  trees  and  heavy  under- 
wood, rendering  the  ground  almost  impassable.  Through  these 
tangled  swamps,  narrow  and  winding  roads  of  oozy  turf,  on 
dark  and  miry  clay,  afford  a  difficult  and  uncertain  means  of 
transit  from  point  to  point.  These  mysterious  depths  are  still 
tenanted  by  the  fallow  deer ;  and  from  the  shadowy  recesses, 
dim  with  trailing  vines,  comes  the  sorrowful  and  plaintive  cry 
of  the  whip-poor-will.  It  was  truly  one  of  the  strangest  freaks  of 
Fate,  that  these  Pontine  marshes,  tenanted  only  by  wild  animals, 
strange  reptiles,  and  the  solitary  whip-poor-will  and  screech-owl, 
should  be  destined  to  become  the-  theatre  of  conflict  between  tens 
of  thousands  of  human  beings,  who  in  all  the  wide  land  could 
find  no  other  arena  for  combat. 

Taking  Richmond  as  a  central  point,  the  course  of  the  Chick- 
ahominy described  something  like  the  arc  of  a  circle  around  it  to 
the  north  and  east.  At  Meadow  Bridge,  where  the  outposts  of 
the  enemy's  right  wing  were  established,  the  stream  is  but  six 


208  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSOX. 

miles  distant  from  the  capital;  at  New  Bridge,  on  the  Ni.e- 
Mile  road,  which  led  toward  General  McClellan's  centre,  the 
distance  is  nine  miles.  The  avenues  of  approach  from  the 
Chickahominy,  the  arc,  to  Richmond,  the  centre  of  the  circle, 
were — commencing  on  the  north  and  travelling  down  the  stream 
— the  Fredericksburg  Railroad,  the  Brook  turnpike,  the  Meadow 
Bridge  road,  the  Central  Railroad,  crossing  at  Meadow  Bridge, 
the  Mechanicsville  turnpike,  the  Nine-Mile  or  New  Bridge 
road,  the  York  River  Railroad,  the  Williamsburg  turnpike,  the 
Charles  City  road,  and  the  Darby  town  road. 

The  Federal  right  was  posted,  as  we  have  said,  near  Meadow 
Bridge,  and  his  line  swept  along  the  left  bank  of  the  Chickahom- 
iny, by  Mechanicsville  and  Beaver-Dam  Creek,  to  Powhite 
Swamp,  where  it  crossed  the  stream  and  extended  beyond  the 
York  River  Railroad ;  his  left  resting  on  the  Williamsburg  or 
Bottom's  Bridge  road,  at  "  Seven  Pines,"  about  five  miles  from 
Richmond.  The  Federal  line  thus  formed  a  species  of  crescent, 
ten  or  fifteen  miles  in  length  ;  the  Meadow  Bridge  road  con- 
necting Richmond  with  the  northern  tip,  the  Williamsburg  road 
with  the  southern,  and  the  Nine-Mile  or  New  Bridge  road  run- 
ning nearly  straight  to  the  centre.  This  formidable  line  of  battle 
was  heavily  fortified — at  Mechanicsville,  Powhite,  and  Seven 
Pines  especially,  where  every  knoll  was  crowned  with  almost  im- 
pregnable breastworks  of  earth  and  trunks  of  trees,  with  the 
boughs  lopped  off  and  sharpened,  and  in  front  of  these  works 
a  bristling  abatis  of  felled  timber  rendered  access  almost 
impossible.  The  works  were  mounted  with  rifled  artillery,  and 
every  avenue  completely  commanded  by  the  grim  muzzles  ready 
to  sweep  the  approaches  with  a  hurricane  of  shot  and  shell. 
For  many  weeks  after  the  battte,  the  frowning  fortifications  ex- 
tending on  both  sides  of  the  York  River  road,  excited  the  aston- 
ishment of  the  citizens  who  visited  them.  But  beyond  the 
Chickahominy,  on  the  hills  above  Mechanicsville  and  Games' 
Mill,  the  Federal  works  were  still  more  formidable,  and  required, 
indeed,for  their  capture,  the  utmost  exertions  of  the  men  of  Hill 
and  Longstreet  and  Jackson,  charging  hour  after  hour,  in  the 


ON   THE   CHICKAHOMINT.  209 

face  of  a  fire  which  has  seldom  been  surpassed  for  destructive 
violence  in  all  the  annals  of  war. 

Such  was  the  position  of  the  Federal  forces  on  the  last  day 
of  May,  when  General  Johnston  struck  at  their  left  wing,  sta* 
tioned  near  "  Seven  Pines,"  and  paralyzed  for  the  moment  th6 
advance  which  General  McClellan  designed  at  that  time  upon 
Richmond.  Their  left  was  driven  from  the  field,  and  their  camps 
and  artillery  captured ;  but  on  the  right  they  still  maintained 
their  ground,  and  were  thus  enabled  to  claim  a  drawn  battle,  in 
spite  of  the  repulse  on  the  Federal  left. 

This  battle  was  hotly  contested,  and  a  private  letter  from  a 
member  of  the  New  York  artillery,  in  the  Cincinnati  Commer- 
cial, soon  afterwards,  thus  described  the  scene : 

"  Our  shot  tore  their  ranks  wide  open,"  says  the  Northern 
writer,  "  and  shattered  them  asunder  in  a  manner  that  was 
frightful  to  witness  ;  but  they  closed  up  at  once,  and  came  on  as 
steadily  as  English  veterans.  When  they  got  within  four  hun- 
dred yards,  we  closed  our  case  shot  and  opened  on  them  with 
canister  ;  and  such  destruction  I  never  elsewhere  witnessed.  At 
each  discharge  great  gaps  were  made  in  their  ranks — indeed, 
whole  companies  went  down  before  that  murderous  fire — but 
they  closed  up  with  an  order  and  discipline  that  was  awe-inspir- 
ing. *  *  *  It  was  awful  to  see  their  ranks,  torn  and  shat- 
tered by  every  discharge  of  canister  that  we  poured  right  into 
their  faces,  and  while  their  dead  and  dying  lay  in  piles,  closed 
up  and  still  kept  advancing  right  in  face  of  the  fire.  At  one 
time,  three  lines,  one  behind  the  other,  were  steadily  advancing, 
and  three  of  their  flags  were  brought  in  range  of  one  of  our 
guns  shotted  with  canister.  Fire  !  shouted  the  gunner,  and 
down  went  those  three  flags,  and  a  gap  was  opened  through 
those  three  lines  as  if  a  thunderbolt  had  torn  through  them,  and 
their  dead  lay  in  swaths.  But  they  at  once  closed  up  and  came 
steadily  on,  never  halting  or  wavering,  right  through  the  woods, 
over  the  fence,  through  the  field,  right  up  to  our  guns,  and, 
sweeping  every  thing  before  them,  captured  every  piece.  *  *  Our 
whole  division  was  cut  to  pieces,  with  what  loss  I  do  not  know.** 
14 


210  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON 

The  battle  of  •'  Seven  Pines  "  was  indecisive,  as  on  the  thinf 
day  the  Confederate  forces  fell  back,  and  the  Federal  lines  re- 
sumed their  former  position ;  and  the  Confederate  cause  sus- 
tained a  serious  loss  in  the  wound  received  by  General  Johnston 
from  a  fragment  of  shell  which  struck  him  as  he  was  reconnoi- 
tring with  General  Stuart  near  Fair  Oaks,  iipon  the  left.  He 
was  succeeded  by  General  Robert  E.  Lee,  who  now  prepared 
for  a  general  attack  upon  the  Federal  lines  with  the  whole  Con- 
federate force  then  in  front  of  Richmond. 

General  Lee  was  at  this  time  about  fifty  years  of  age,  and  in 
the  ripe  vigor  of  his  faculties.  He  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  the 
son  of  Colonel  Henry  Lee,  surnamed  "Light-Horse  Harry," 
and,  like  his  father,  had  been  a  cavalry  officer.  He  had  accom- 
panied Lieutenant-General  Scott  to  Mexico,  where  he  is  said  to 
have  planned  the  entire  campaign  ;  and  that  officer's  opinion  of 
his  military  abilities  was  known  to  be  very  high.  In  person, 
General  Lee  was  tall  and  vigorously  knit,  his  countenance  was 
still  remarkable  for  its  personal  beauty,  his  eyes  were  clear  and 
benignant,  but  suddenly  blazed  when  he  grew  excited,  and  his 
hair,  beard,  and  mustache  were  gray.  It  was  impossible  to  be 
in  this  officer's  presence,  and  to  note  his  air  of  self-poised  strength 
and  repose,  without  feeling  that  he  was  a  person  of  great  eleva- 
tion of  character  and  of  broad  and  commanding  intellect.  He 
had,  at  that  time,  won  little  popular  fame,  but  had  made  a  deep 
impression  upon  some  of  the  first  men  of  the  country.  Those 
who  knew  him  best,  loved  and  respected  him  the  most ;  and  he 
was,  indeed,  a  truthful  type  of  the  old  Virginia  cavalier.  His 
manners  were  courteous  but  reserved,  his  voice  deep  and  pleas- 
ant, his  bearing  characterized  by  a  supreme  repose  which  few 
human  things  seemed  able  to  shake.  Deeply  sensible,  appa- 
rently, of  the  great  responsibility  resting  upon  his  shoulder?,  he 
was  without  gayety  or  abandon ;  but  he  had  by  nature  a  dry, 
quaint  humor,  which  sometimes  came  out  in  private,  and  made 
him  charming.  What  chiefly  impressed  a  stranger  was  the 
noble  simplicity  of  General  Lee's  demeanor,  the  air  of  proud 
courtesy  which  at  other  times  distinguished  him,  and  the  latent 


ON   THE   CHICKAHOMINT.  211 

fire  of  an  eye  which  could  be  soft  or  fiery.  It  was  impossible  to 
know  him  and  not  love  him — for  he  was  the  soul  of  kindness,  the 
flower  of  chivalry  and  honor.  His  stately  figure  brought  to  mind 
the  old  race  of  Virginians  ;  and  in  prosperity  or  adversity,  in  vic- 
tory or  defeat,  it  was  plain  that  this  noble  spirit  was  sufficient  for 
itself,  looking  to  a  greater  power  than  man's  for  support. 

He  was  said  to  have  been  greatly  attached  to  the  flag  under 
which  he  had  so  long  fought,  and  to  have  resigned  his  commis- 
sion in  the  United  States  Army  only  at  the  imperative  call  of 
his  native  State.  But,  once  embarked  in  the  Southern  struggle, 
he  had  cast  no  look  backward,  and  entered  upon  the  war  with 
all  the  vigor  of  feeling  and  conviction  combined.  Above  the 
temptations  of  military  ambition,  as  he  was  superior  to  the 
thought  of  mercenary  advantage,  he  had  indulged,  it  is  said,  the 
hope  that  the  struggle  might  soon  end,  without  bloodshed  almost ; 
and  so  well  known  was  this  sentiment,  that  many  Southern 
journals  sneered  at  him  as  a  leader  too  soft  and  unwarlike  for 
the  stormy  epoch  in  which  he  appeared.  They  did  not  know  the 
great  resources  and  imperial  resolution  of  the  man  who  con- 
cealed beneath  his  sweetness  and  repose  of  manner  one  of  those 
powerful  organizations  which  mould  with  an  iron  hand  the  des- 
tinies of  nations. 

In  military  affairs,  the  most  notable  traits  of  this  officer  were 
broad  comprehension  and  great  powers  of  combination.  The 
movements  of  his  mind  were  cautious  and  deliberate,  and  he 
liked  best  to  initiate  great  campaigns  and  move  large  bodies 
over  a  wide  arena — to  manoauvre  with  armies,  rather  than  de- 
tachments. Averse,  like  Johnston,  to  affairs  of  the  outpost,  and 
unnecessary  bloodshed  on  any  occasion,  he  husbanded  his 
strength  for  decisive  movements,  and  preferred  to  fight  •  pitched 
battles  rather  than  skirmishes.  The  world  called  him  slow,  and 
compared  his  movements  unfavorably  with  those  of  Jackson ; 
but  Jackson  left  on  record  his  own  opinion  of  the  man,  when 
he  said  to  an  intimate  friend,  after  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill : 

"  General  Lee  is  not  slow.  No  one  knows  the  weight  upon 
his  heart — his  great  responsibilities.  He  is  commander-in-chief. 


212  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON* 

and  he  knows  that,  if  an  army  is  lost,  it  cannot  be  replaced.  No  h 
there  may  be  some  persons  whose  good  opinion  of  me  will  make 
them  attach  some  weight  to  my  views  ;  and  if  you  ever  hear  that 
said  of  General  Lee,  I  beg  you  will  contradict  it  in  my  name» 
I  have  known  General  Lee  for  five-and-twenty  years ;  he  is 
cautious  ;  he  ought  to  be.  But  he  is  not  '  slow.'  Lee  is  a 
phenomenon.  He  is  the  only  man  whom  I  would  follow  blind* 
fold ! " 

Such  was  the  man  who  now  took  command  of  the  Confeder- 
ate forces,  and  prepared  to  play  the  great  game  against  McClellan. 
To  assail  the  Federal  forces  to  advantage,  it  was  obviously 
the  best  policy  to  strike  at  one  of  their  flanks,  and  crush  that 
wing  before  the  other  could  cross  the  Chickahominy  and  come 
to  its  support.  General  Stuart  suggested  an  attack  upon  the 
Federal  left  flank,  which,  in  the  event  of  his  defeat,  would  have 
prevented  his  retreat  to  his  gunboats  on  James  River ;  but 
General  Lee  decided,  finally,  upon  assailing  his  right  wing,  be- 
yond the  Chickahominy,  and  outflanking  his  right  at  the  same 
moment,  if  the  fortifications  in  that  direction  were  such  as  to. 
encourage  the  latter  movement. 

To  ascertain  the  character  of  these  defences  on  the  enemy's, 
right  flank,  and  obtain  information  as  to  his  strength  and  posi- 
tion, General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  was  directed  to  make  a  reconnois- 
sance  with  cavalry  in  that  direction,  aad  proceed,  if  possible,  as 
far  as  Old  Church,  when  his  further  movements  would  be  regula- 
ted by  circumstances.  This  officer,  whom  we  have  met  with  in  the 
Valley,  had  now  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general, 
and  had  become  the  chief  cavalry  leader  of  the  war.  His  opera-^ 
tions  in  front  of  the  enemy,  toward  Arlington  Heights,  andi 
afterwards  in  covering  the  rear  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  as 
General  Johnston  fell  back  from  Centreville,  had  gained  for  him 
a  high  reputation,  and  this  had  been  increased  by  operations  in 
the  Peninsula.  His  regiment  had  grown  into  a  brigade,  with 
such  accomplished  regimental  commanders  as  Colonel  Fitz  Lee, 
Colonel  Martin,  Colonel  W.  H.  F.  Lee,  and  others ;  and  with 


ON   THE    CHICKAHOMINT.  213: 

about    1,500    men,  General  Stuart  set  out  about  the  middle  of 
June  on  his  reconnaissance. 

The  "  Ride  around  McClellan  "  was  long  remembered,  not 
only  by  those  who  took  part  in  it,  but  by  the  entire  people,  who; 
were  delighted  with  its  audacity  and  pleased  with  the  annoyance 
which  it  caused  the  enemy.  Stuart  passed  through  Hanover 
Court-House,  driving  away  a  picket  force  ;  charged  and  routed  a 
squadron  under  Captain  Royal,  near  Old  Church,  burned  their 
camp  and  several  transports  on  the  Pamunkey,  destroyed  large 
wagon-trains,  captured  many  prisoners,  and,  having  marched 
entirely  around  General  McClellan's  army,  built  a  bridge  over 
the  swollen  current  of  the  Chickahominy,  far  below,  and  safely 
crossed  into  Charles  City,  just  as  the  Federal  cavalry  and 
artillery  thundered  down  upon  his  rear.  This  expedition  at  a 
moment  so  important,  excited  general  attention,  and  the  Empe-. 
ror  Napoleon  is  said  to  have  traced  out  Stuart's  route  upon  the 
map  with  deep  interest,  but  the  information  obtained  was  more, 
important  than  the  applause  of  citizens  or  soldiers.  Stuart  had, 
completely  succeeded  in  his  object.  The  discovery  had  been, 
made  that  the  Tottapotamoi,  a  stream  running  across  the  Fed- 
eral right  Sank,  was  wholly  undefended,  a  movement  in  that 
direction  entirely  practicable,  and  a  blow  at  General  McClellan's 
rear,  from  the  quarter  of  Cold  Harbor,  almost  certain  to  prove 
fatal,  if  accompanied  by  an  assault  in  front. 

The  result  of  this  reconnoissance  decided  General  Lee,  if  his 
resolution  was  not  already  taken  ;  and  General  Jackson  was 
promptly  directed  to  move  his  corps  to  the  Chickahominy,  for 
an  attack  on  the  enemy  in  flank  and  reverse  near  Cold  Harbor. 

We  have  seen  how  he  came  at  the  summons,  and  on  the, 
25th  of  June  reached  Ashland,  about  sixteen  miles  from  Rich-, 
mond. 


214  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

CHAPTER    HI. 

COLD  HARBOR. 

ON  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  June,  the  great  drama  com- 
menced. For  seven  long  days  and  nights  its  tragic  scenes  were 
to  be  unfolded  on  the  banks  of  the  Chickahominy.  For  weeks, 
the  sluggish  waters  had  stolen  away  between  the  rush-clad  mar- 
gins, and  no  sound  but  the  melancholy  cry  of  the  whip-poor-will, 
or  the  hum  of  the  Federal  camps,  had  disturbed  the  sultry  nights 
of  June.  Now  the  dreary  silence  had  given  way  to  the  uproar 
of  battle.  In  the  midst  of  dust,  and  smoke,  and  blood,  the  cries 
of  the  wounded,  and  the  groans  of  the  dying,  with  the  thunder 
and  lightning  of  artillery  and  small-arms,  mingled  in  one  great 
diabolical  solo,  the  days  were  to  dawn,  reach  their  noon,  and 
sink  into  the  black  and  woeful  night,  in  whose  sombre  depths 
were  buried  so  many  hopeless  moans  of  anguish  and  despair. 

When  the  movement  of  General  Lee  commenced,  the  divi- 
sions of  Magruder  and  Huger,  supported  by  those  of  Longstreet 
and  D.  H.  Hill,  were  in  front  of  the  powerful  Federal  works  on 
the  York  River  Railroad  and  Williamsburg  road,  directly  east 
of  the  city.  The  division  of  A.  P.  Hill  extended  from  Magru- 
der's  left,  up  the  southern  bank  of  the  Chickahomiuy,  Branch's 
brigade  occupying  the  point  where  the  Brooke  turnpike  inter- 
sects the  stream.  Jackson,  with  his  own,  Ewell's,  and  Whit- 
ing's divisions,  was  on  the  march  from  Ashland,  steadily  sweep- 
ing down  to  his  appointed  work. 

General  Lee's  plan  possessed  the  simplicity  of  genius.  Be- 
fore any  movement  could  be  made  against  the  Federal  forces 
beyond  the  Chickahominy,  it  was  necessary  to  carry  their  pow- 
erful advanced  positions  at  Mechanicsville,  and  on  Beaver-Dam 
Creek  just  below,  so  as  to  uncover  the  Mechanicsville  bridge. 
These  ^orks  Lee  determined  to  turn  with  the  column  of  Jack- 
son, while  A.  P.  Hill  assailed  them  in  front.  Hill  was  ac- 


COLD   HARBOR.  215 

•cordingly  ordered,  as  soon  as  Jackson  passed  beyond  Meadow 
Bridge,  to  throw  his  division  across  at  that  point ;  to  advance 
upon  Mechanicsville,  attack  the  position,  and  uncover  the  bridge, 
when  D.  H.  Hill  would  cross  and  join  Jackson,  and  Long- 
street  reenforce  A.  P.  Hill — Magruder  and  Huger  remaining 
on  the  southern  aide  in  front  of  the  enemy's  left,  with  orders  to 
hold  their  ground,  whatever  force  was  brought  against  them. 
The  mair  body — Jackson,  D.  H.  Hill,  A.  P.  Hill,  and  Long- 
street — was  then  to  sweep  down  the  northern  bank  of  the  Chick- 
ahominy  in  echelon  of  divisions,  Jackson  on  the  left  and  in  the  ad- 
vance, and  Longstreet  next  to  the  stream — threaten  the  Federal 
depots  at  the  White  House,  and  their  line  of  communication,  the 
York  River  Railroad ;  force  them  to  come  out  of  their  intrench- 
ments  and  fight — or  retreat,  and  give  up  their  position.  By  this 
plan  of  battle  the  enemy  would  be  attacked  beyond  the  Chicka- 
hominy  before  he  could  tlirow  his  left  wing,  near  Seveu  Pines, 
across  to  the  assistance  of  his  right.  The  programme  of  opera- 
tions involved  desperate  fighting  for  the  possession  of  Mechan- 
icsville, where  a  large  body  of  the  troops  must  cross  ;  but  with 
that  point  once  secured,  the  movements  which  were  to  follow 
promised,  as  far  as  the  human  eye  could  see,  to  result  in  the 
success  of  the  Confederate  arms.  The  Federal  right  wing  and 
centre  would  be  assailed  in  front  and  flank  at  the  same  moment ; 
and  the  defective  communications  between  the  northern  and 
southern  banks  of  the  Chickahominy  threatened  General  Mc- 
Clellau  with  utter  defeat  before  his  left  could  come  up  to  take 
part  in  the  action 

On  the  26th,  as  we  have  said  above,  the  great  gladiators 
were  face  to  face,  and  the  struggle  began.  Brigadier-General 
Branch  crossed  the  Chickahominy  high  up,  where  it  is  crossed 
by  the  Brooke  turnpike,  and  moved  down  the  left  bank  to  form 
a  junction  with  General  A.  P.  Hill,  who  crossed  at  Mead- 
ow Bridge  about  three  P.  M.  Branch  did  not  arrive  in  time  to 
join  Hill,  who  advanced  upon  Mechanicsville,  and  attacked  the 
Federal  position  there  with  stubborn  resolution.  The  engage- 
ment which  ensued  was  resolute  and  bloody ;  the  Confederate 


216  LITE    OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

troops  returning  time  after  time  to  the  assault.  The  Federa 
forces  defended  themselves  with  desperation,  but  were  driven 
from  all  their  positions,  retreating  rapidly ;  and  the  way  having 
thus  been  cleared  for  the  passage  of  Longstreet  and  D.  H.  Hill, 
their  divisions  were  promptly  thrown  across. 

Meantime,  General  A.  P.  Hill  had  pressed  on,  upon  the 
track  of  the  retreating  enemy,  and  about  a  mile  below  Mechan- 
icsville  found  himself  in  front  of  a  new  and  far  more  formidable 
series  of  works  on  the  left  bank  of  Beaver-Dam  Creek,  which 
empties  near  this  point  into  the  Chickahominy.  The  Federal 
position  here  was  almost  impregnable  to  an  assault  in  front. 
The  banks  of  the  stream  occupied  by  the  works  were  abrupt, 
almost  perpendicular ;  the  ground  in  front  was  open  and  com- 
pletely swept  by  their  numerous  artillery  ;  and  to  still  further  dis- 
courage assault,  they  had  felled  the  trees,  destroyed  the  bridges, 
and  honeycombed  every  point  with  rifle-pits. 

The  most  obstinate  and  determined  efforts  were  made  to 
drive  the  Federal  forces  from  their  strong  position,  and  heavy 
firing  was  kept  up  with  artillery  until  nine  o'clock  at  night.  The 
attack  was  resumed  at  dawn,  and  the  Southern  troops  made 
every  effort  to  overcome  the  fatal  obstructions.  Forcing  a  pas- 
sage across  the  ground  in  front,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery, 
they  reached  the  banks  of  the  stream,  but  the  character  of  the 
ground  made  a  successful  assault  of  the  works  in  front  impos- 
sible. An  attempt  was  about  to  be  made  to  cross  lower  down, 
and  attack  the  Federal  left  flank,  when  suddenly  they  retired  in 
haste  from  their  strong  position,  and,  leaving  every  thing  in 
flames,  retreated  rapidly  down  the  stream.  Jackson  had  crossed 
Beaver-Dam  Creek,  turned  their  right  flank,  and  forced  them  to 
retire. 

Jackson  had  moved  as  rapidly  as  the  crowding  obstructions 
in  the  roads  would  permit  on  the  left  of  A.  P.  Hill,  making  for 
the  York  River  Railroad.  He  advanced  with  Whiting's  division 
in  front,  preceded  and  guarded  on  his  left  flank  by  the  cavalry 
under  Stuart.  At  Tottapotamoi  Creek,  a  sluggish  stream,  with 
abrupt  banks  heavily  wooded,  the  bridge  was  discovered  to  be 


COLD    HARBOR.  217 

on  fire,  and  the  sound  of  the  enemy's  axes  was  heard  beyond, 
felling  trees  to  obstruct  the  road.  To  prevent  the  prosecution 
of  this  work,  General  Hood  was  directed  to  throw  forward  skir- 
mishers, and  Captain  Reilly  to  open  with  his  battery  upon  the 
enemy.  This  had  the  desired  effect.  They  disappeared,  leaving 
their  axes  sticking  in  the  trees  ;  and  the  bridge  having  been  re- 
paired, the  army  continued  its  march,  still  skirmishing  with  the 
Federal  rear  guard  until  it  reached  Hundley's  Corner,  where  it 
bivouacked  for  the  night.  Jackson,  following  the  orders  of 
General  Lee,  had  thus  borne  away  from  the  Chickahominy, 
where  the  reverberating  roar  of  artillery  indicated  the  commence- 
ment of  the  battle ;  had  gained  ground  toward  the  Pamunkey, 
driving  all  before  him ;  and  was  now  in  a  position  to  descend 
next  day  on  the  enemy  near  Cold  Harbor,  and  decide  the  fate  of 
the  day. 

The  memorable  27th  of  June  dawned  clear  and  cloudless. 
Jackson,  now  reenforced  by  D.  H.  Hill,  gradually  converging 
toward  the  Chickahominy  again,  and  advancing  steadily,  with 
Ewell  in  front,  drove  the  enemy  steadily  before  him,  surmounted! 
every  obstacle  which  they  had  placed  in  the  roads  to  bar  hia 
progress,  and  about  five  in  the  afternoon  reached  the  vicinity  of 
Old  Cold  Harbor. 

He  did  not  arrive  a  moment  too  soon.  "Whilst  he  had  been 
rapidly  bearing  down,  in  accordance  with  his  orders,  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  White  House,  so  as  to  threaten  the  Federal  right 
flank,  important  events  had  been  taking  place  nearer  to  the 
Chickahominy. 

Longstreet  and  A.  P.  Hill  had  pressed  on  after  the  retreating 
enemy — who  left  behind  them  burning  wagons  and  crowds  of 
stragglers — until  they  reached,  about  noon,  a  point  near  New 
Bridge.  Here  they  found  the  Federal  forces  drawn  up  behind 
Powhite  Creek,  in  a  position  of  very  great  strength,  prepared  to 
hold  their  ground  and  dispute  the  passage  of  the  stream. 

Powhite  Creek  is  one  of  those  small  watercourses  which 
traverse  the  counties  of  Hanover  and  New  Kent,  running  be- 
tween densely-wooded  bluffs,  or  stealing  across  marshy  low 


218  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

grounds.  It  runs  obliquely  to  the  Chickahominy,  in  a  direction 
nearly  southwest,  and  on  its  left  bank  a  long  wooded  ridge  ex- 
tends from  above  Cold  Harbor  to  the  vicinity  of  G-aines'  Mill, 
where  it  terminates  in  a  bluff  rising  abruptly  from  a  deep  ravine. 
On  this  ridge  the  enemy  were  posted ;  their  right  at  McG-ehee's 
house,  their  left  near  Dr.  Games'.  The  ravine  in  front  was 
filled  with  sharpshooters,  lurking  behind  the  banks  and  trees  ; 
above  them,  on  the  slope  of  the  ridge,  a  heavy  line  of  infantry 
was  stationed  behind  a  breastwork  of  trees  ;  and  on  the  crest  a 
third  line  was  drawn  up,  supported  by  crowding  batteries,  ready 
to  unloose  their  thunders  as  soon  as  the  Southern  troops  ap- 
peared. No  point  was  left  unguarded ;  rifle-pits  extended  on 
every  hand ;  artillery  and  infantry  crowned  every  elevation ; 
and  the  Federal  batteries  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  Chicka- 
hominy completely  swept  the  ground  over  which  the  Confed- 
erates must  advance  to  the  assault. 

In  front  of  the  Federal  centre  and  right  the  ground  was 
marshy,  and  obstructed  by  felled  trees  ;  and  the  coverts  were  full 
of  sharpshooters,  ready  to  delay  the  advance  of  the  Southern 
forces ;  while  the  heavy  batteries  from  the  crest  above  played  on 
them  and  repelled  their  attack. 

General  A.  P.  Hill  advancing,  followed  by  Longstreet, 
reached  the  vicinity  of  New  Cold  Harbor,  opposite  the  Federal 
right  and  centre,  about  two  o'clock.  Here  he  came  upon  the 
enemy,  whose  advanced  artillery  was  posted  in  the  fields  near 
by,  and  immediately  attacked  them,  with  a  dash  and  courage 
which,  at  the  close  of  that  memorable  day,  had  won  for  him  and 
his  men  justly  deserved  fame.  Their  advance  was  driven  back  ; 
and  then,  for  more  than  two  hours,  ensued  a  conflict  desperate 
and  bloody  in  the  extreme.  In  vain,  however,  did  Hill,  with 
his  force  of  not  more  than  8,000  men,  assail  the  strong  fortifica- 
tions in  which  nearly  30,000  Federal  troops,  with  heavy  artillery 
supports,  disputed  his  advance.  Their  works  crowning  every 
slope,  and  protected  by  ravines,  watercourses,  and  the  swamp, 
in  which  the  timber  had  been  felled,  rendering  the  approaches 
almost  impassable,  still  defied  his  most  determined  efforts  ;  and 


COLD    HARBOR.  219 

in  charge  after  charge,  the  bravest  of  the  Southern  troops  re- 
coiled from  the  horrible  fire,  shattered  and  broken.  Hill  was  re- 
enforced  by  Pickett's  brigade,  and  a  still  more  resolute  assault 
was  made  than  before ;  but  with  the  same  result.  The  troops 
fought  with  the  most  reckless  courage  ;  and  three  of  Hill's  regi- 
,ments  pierced  the  Federal  line  and  attained  the  crest,  but  were 
forced  to  retire  before  overwhelming  numbers.  Under  the  mur- 
derous salvos  of  shell  and  canister  sweeping  their  ranks  and 
strewing  the  earth  with  their  dead,  the  Southern  troops  were 
forced  to  give  back,  and  the  enemy  rushed  forward  and  gained 
possession  of  the  ground  from  which  they  had  been  first  re- 
pulsed. 

General  Lee  had  joined  General  A.  P.  Hill  at  New  Cold 
Harbor,  and  now  listened  with  anxiety  for  the  sound  of  Jack- 
son's guns  on  his  left.  The  obstinacy  of  the  enemy  in  holding 
their  position  on  Po white  Creek,  instead  of  falling  back,  as  it 
was  expected  they  would  do,  to  protect  their  communications, 
had  compelled  a  corresponding  change  in  Jackson's  movements. 
The  design  of  advancing  down  the  Peninsula  in  echelon  of  divi- 
sions, was  necessarily  abandoned,  in  consequence  of  the  changed 
aspect  of  affairs ;  and  Jackson  had  to  alter  his  order  of  march 
and  hurry  forward  to  the  battle-field.  To  relieve  General  Hill, 
meanwhile,  and  hold  the  position  until  Jackson  arrived,  General 
Longstreet  was  directed  to  make  a  feint  on  the  right  against  the 
enemy's  left,  near  Games'  Mill ;  and  this  he  proceeded  to  do 
without  loss  of  time.  The  batteries  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Chickahominy,  as  well  as  those  in  front,  were  sweeping  the  ap- 
proach, but  the  men  advanced  with  great  coolness  to  the  assault, 
and  were  now  close  upon  the  Federal  position.  Its  enormous 
strength  was  now  for  the  first  time  discovered ;  and  findjng  that 
he  could  effect  nothing  by  a  feint,  General  Longstreet  determined 
to  turn  the  movement  into  a  real  attack,  and  made  his  prepara- 
tions without  delay. 

Such  was  the  aspect  of  affairs  on  the  field  about  five  in  tho 
evening.  The  Federal  troops  had  repulsed  every  assault,  and 
the  descending  sun  threatened  to  set  upon  a  day  memorable  in 


220  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

the  annals  of  the  South  for  bloody  and  disastrous  defeat.  One 
man  alone  could  reverse  this  picture  of  ruin.  General  Lee,  as 
we  have  said,  awaited  anxiously,  near  Cold  Harbor,  the  noise 
of  guns  upon  his  left,  informing  him  that  Jackson  had  arrived. 
Suddenly  the  hearts  of  ail  throbbed  fiercely ;  and  cheers  rose 
and  ran  along  the  shattered  lines  of  Hill,  as  the  welcome  sound 
was  heard.  From  the  woods  on  the  left  came  the  rattle  of 
small-arms,  mingled  with  the  roar  of  artillery ;  and,  with  every 
passing  moment,  it  grew  louder  and  louder.  General  Lee 
pushed  on  in  the  direction  of  the  sound,  and  saw  Jackson 
coming  to  meet  him. 

"  Ah,  General,"  said  Lee,  "  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you.  I 
hoped  to  have  been  with  you  before." 

Then  pausing  a  moment,  and  listening  to  the  'long-streaming 
f  oar  in  the  woods,  he  added  :  "  That  fire  is  very  heavy  !  Do 
•you  think  your  men  can  stand  it  ?  " 

Jackson  turned  his  head  to  one  side,  as  was  his  custom, 
'listened,  and  then  said,  in  his  brief  tones :  "  They  can  stand 
jalmc-st  #ny  thing.  They  can  stand  that !  " 

After  a  brief  interview,  he  then  returned  to  the  command  of 
his  corps.  His  appearance  on  this  day  was  not  imposing.  He 
rode  a  gaunt  sorrel  horse,  slow,  and  somewhat  awkward  in  move- 
ment, and  his  seat  in  the  saddle  was  in  strong  contrast  to  that 
of  General  Lee,  who  is  very  erect  and  graceful  on  horseback. 
Jackson  leaned  forward  like  a  tyro  in  riding;  was  clad  in  a 
dingy  gray  uniform,  without  decorations,  and  wore  his  famous 
old  sun-scorched  cap  drawn  down  low  upon  the  forehead.  He 
was  sucking  a  lemon,  and  rode  about  slowly,  often  wholly  un- 
attended, listening  with  outward  calmness,  but  evidently  with 
intense  inward  solicitude,  to  the  continuous  roar  of  musketry 
from  the  woods.  His  position  during  the  battle  was  near  the 
Old  Cold  Harbor  house,  on  the  left  of  his  line ;  and  riding 
slowly  to  and  fro  across  the  fields,  he  was  subjected  to  a  heavy 
fire  of  shell,  which  he  appeared  wholly  unconscious  of,  retaining 
his  calm,  almost  absent  air  through  all.  His  appearance  is  best 
described  by  the  statement,  that  he  seemed  to  have  lost  all 


COLD   HAEBOE.  221 

•personal  consciousness  of  time  and  place.  His  brain  seemed  to 
foe  busy  with  the  hot  struggle  in  the  woods  in  front  of  him,  and 
he  appeared  to  be  absorbed  in  thought  upon  the  great  tragedy 
being  played  before  him — to  have  concentrated  on  the  bloody 
drama  all  the  resources  of  his  mind,  aiid  heart,  and  soul,  until 
he  had  become  oblivious  of  his  personal  identity.  When  spoken 
to,  his  head  turned  quickly,  and  the  dark  eyes  flashed  at  you, 
from  beneath  the  rim  of  the  old  cap.  A  quick  response,  or  an 
order  in  the  briefest  tones,  followed,  and  the  General  returned  to 
his  absorbing  thoughts. 

Jackson  had  never  seen  the  ground  before  ;  and  this,  he  said, 
greatly  embarrassed  him.  But  his  quick  eye,  as  at  Manassas, 
•soon  took  in  its  general  features,  and  his  dispositions  were 
promptly  made.  Stuart  took  position  in  the  extensive  fields 
near  the  Old  Cold  Harbor  bouse,  to  charge  and  intercept  the 
enemy  if  they  attempted  to  retreat  toward  the  Pamunkey — his 
men  having  been  informed  by  their  commander  that  they  "  had 
tough  work  before  them,  and  they  must  perform  it  like  men  " — 
and  the  infantry  was  rapidly  moved  to  the  points  where  the 
Southern  lines  were  weakest. 

Whiting's  division  was  hurried  forward  to  assist  Longstreet 
in  his  assault  upon  the  Federal  left,  and  formed  on  the  left  of  his 
line,  joining  the  right  of  General  A.  P.  Hill.  On  the  left  of 
Hill,  and  opposite  the  enemy's  centre,  was  a  part  of  Jackson's 
old  division,  the  remainder  being  sent  to  the  right ;  on  the  left 
-of  that,  Ewell's ;  and  on  the  extreme  left,  D.  H.  Hill's  division. 

The  artillery  had  not  yet  arrived  ;  but  General  Stuart's  horse 
artillery,  under  the  gallant  Captain  Pelham,  had  already  opened 
on  the  left,  near  the  Old  Cold  Harbor  house  ;  and  the  moment 
had  now  come  when  the  Federal  positions  must  be  carried,  01 
the  day  be  lost.  We  have  described  the  ground  over  which  the 
men  of  Jackson  were  now  about  to  charge.  In  their  front  a 
swamp,  and  sluggish  stream,  a  wood  of  tangled  undergrowth, 
.and  heavy  masses  of  felled  timber,  made  successful  attack  almost 
•hopeless.  But  that  attack  must  be  made.  The  troops  of  Hill 
were  worn  out  by  the  long  and  tremendous  struggle,  of  two  days' 


222  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

duration,  and  it  was  now  the  turn  of  their  comrades.  Jackson's 
men  had  charged  and  swept  over  the  stone  walls  of  the  Valley, 
lined  with  long  rows  of  marksmen  ;  and  they  must  now  show 
that  they  were  able  to  struggle  through  swamps,  in  which  the 
feet  sunk  at  every  step  ;  to  clamber  over  the  enemy's  abatis  of 
felled  trees,  with  the  boughs  lopped  and  sharpened ;  to  pene- 
trate undergrowth,  wade  through  deep  ditches,  and  charge 
masked-batteries,  which  were  vomiting  masses  of  shell  and  canis- 
ter in  their  faces.  The  work  was  hard,  and  required  all  their 
manhood  ;  but  it  could  not  be  avoided.  The  hour  had  came  for 
them  to  conquer  or  die. 

Jackson  gave  the  order,  and  his  whole  line  swept  forward  in 
one  grand  charge,  with  tumultuous  cheers,  and  a  long  roar  of 
musketry,  which  thundered  through  the  woods.  The  action  had 
begun  in  earnest. 

Narratives  of  battles  are  chiefly  valuable  for  the  insight 
which  they  afford  into  the  depths  of  profound  intellects,  planning 
and  executing  great  movements  upon  arenas  of  decisive  struggle. 
It  is  the  work  of  the  brain,  not  the  labor  of  the  hand,  which  at- 
tracts the  attention  of  the  student ;  the  conception  of  the  com- 
mander rather  than  the  fighting  of  the  troops,  which  advance  or 
retire  like  puppets  at  the  bidding  of  the  controlling  and  respon- 
sible intellect  presiding  over  all.  This  is  fortunate  for  the 
narrator,  who,  deprived  of  the  colors  of  the  painter,  finds  his 
subject  too  vast  and  exciting  for  his  powers.  What  follows  that 
order  to  "  charge  with  the  bayonet,"  but  smoke,  uproar,  the 
smell  of  blood,  the  groans  of  the  dying,  and  the  shouts  of  those 
who,  perhaps,  at  the  next  moment  will  be  riddled  with  bullets, 
or  mangled  with  shell,  and  hurled  in  an  instant  into  eternity? 

After  five  o'clock  on  the  27th  of  June,  1862,  the  banks  of  the 
Chickahominy,  near  Powhite  Creek,  were  enveloped  in  a  vast 
lurid  canopy,  through  which  were  seen  long  lines  sweeping  for- 
ward to  the  charge,  and  from  whose  depths  came  up  in  a  long 
frightful  roll,  the  crash  of  small-arms  and  the  din  of  artillery, 
mingled  with  wild  cheers,  as  the  opposing  ranks  clashed  oue 
against  the  other.  From  the  moment  when  Jackson  gave  the 


COLD   HAKBOE.  223 

• 

order  for  his  lines  to  advance,  the  battle  raged  with  indescribable 
fury.  Through  the  dense  ascending  clouds,  we  shall  endeavor  to 
follow  the  movements  of  the  troops  commanded  by  Jackson,  and 
briefly  describe  the  part  which  each  took  in  the  struggle.  D.  H. 
Hill's  troops,  on  the  left,  first  came  in  contact  with  the  Federal 
line.  The  men  rushed  through  the  swamp,  underwood,  and 
felled  trees,  in  face  of  a  heavy  fire  ;  and  after  a  fierce  and  bloody 
contest  drove  the  enemy  back  on  their  reserve.  They  took 
position  behind  a  fence  and  ditch  ;  and  Hill  determined  to  press 
on,  when  his  attention  was  called  to  a  battery  which  was  so 
posted  as  to  pour  a  destructive  enfilading  fire  upon  his  advancing  " 
line.  It  was  necessary  first  to  silence  this  battery  ;  and  Colonel 
Jverson,  with  the  1st,  3d,  and  20th  North  Carolina,  charged 
and  captured  it.  The  enemy  immediately  attacked  them  in 
force,  and  succeeded  in  recapturing  the  guns,  but  not  until  Gen- 
eral Hill  had  advanced  over  the  dangerous  ground,  and  was 
engaged  in  an  obstinate  contest  with  the  entire  Federal  force  in 
front  of  him. 

Meanwhile  General  Ewell  had  a  hard  fight  upon  General 
Hill's  right.  The  same  obstacles  barred  his  advance  upon  the 
Federal  position,  but  he  charged  through  the  swamp,  up  the  hill 
in  face  of  a  terrible  fire,  and  fought  with  that  daring  which  had 
so  often  excited  the  admiration  of  his  commander.  Reenforced 
by  Lawton  and  Trimble,  General  Ewell  continued  the  struggle 
until  dusk,  when  his  ammunition  being  completely  exhausted,  he 
fell  back. 

Jackson's  old  division  was  the  third  in  the  line,  counting 
from  left  to  right,  and  was  held  as  a  species  of  reserve,  to  be 
sent  to  the  support  of  any  part  of  the  line  which  was  hard 
pressed.  The  1st  "  Stonewall "  brigade  moved  on  the  enemy's 
front  through  the  swamp,  so  frequently  mentioned,  and  did  some 
of  the  hardest  fighting  of  the  whole  day. 

It  is  related  that  when  his  lines  at  this  point  were  hard 
pressed,  Jackson  turned  to  an  officer  of  his  staff,  and  said 
quickly :  "  Where  is  the  1st  brigade?" 

"  In  the  woods,  yonder,  General." 


224  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

• 

u  Order  it  to  advance  !  "  was  Jackson's  brief  response,  and5 
soon  the  lines  were  seen  sweeping  forward.  As  they  charged* 
the  officers  and  men  were  heard  shouting,  "  Jackson  !  Jack- 
son ! " 

The  enemy  contended  with  especial  obstinacy  for  the  posses- 
sion of  the  ground  at  this  point,  which  was  the  key  of  his  posi- 
tion ;  and  the  roar  of  his  artillery  and  musketry,  as  his  fire  con- 
verged upon  it,  was  appalling.  Jackson  said  that  night,  in  the 
hearing  of  the  writer,  that  it  was  "  the  most  terrible  fire  of 
musketry  he  ever  heard,"  and  all  who  heard  it  will  recognize 
the  truth  of  the  description.  The  old  brigade  did  not  flinch 
from  the  ordeal.  Under  its  brave  leader,  General  Charles  Win- 
der, it  moved  steadily  on,  amid  the  tempest  of  projectiles,  and 
driving  the  enemy  from  point  to  point,  stormed  his  last  position, 
three  hundred  yards  beyond  McGee's,  with  the  bayonet.  The 
2d  brigade  was  sent  to  reenforce  General  Wilcox,  at  his  own 
request,  but  arrived  too  late  to  take  part  in  the  engagement. 
The  3d  brigade,  sent  to  support  Whiting,  also  came  too  late. 
The  4th  brigade  took  part  in  the  general  charge  late  in  the 
evening. 

General  Whiting's  division,  which  held  the  right  of  Jackson's^ 
line,  advanced  through  the  wood  and  swamp,  in  face  of  a  mur* 
derous  fire.  Hood's  4th  (Texas)  brigade  charged  with  a  loud 
yell,  and  rushing  down  the  precipitous  ravine,  leaping  ditch  and 
stream,  pressed  forward  over  the  enemy's  abatis",  and  every 
obstruction,  driving  all  before  them.  They  lost  1,000  men,  but 
took  14  pieces  of  cannon,  and  nearly  a  regiment  of  prisoners* 
It  was  of  the  Texans  that  Jackson  said  on  the  next  day,  when) 
he  surveyed  the  ditch  and  abatis,  over  which  they  charged ; 

"  The  men  who  carried  this  position  were  soldiers  indeed !  "" 

Of  General  Hood's  decisive  charge  upon  the  Federal  works 
near  McGee's  house,  one  of  his  Texans  gives  an  animated 
sketch,  of  which  a  portion  is  here  presented.  "  While  Hood's* 
brigade,"  says  the  writer,  "  was  formed  in  line  of  battle,  the  4th 
Texas  was  held  in  partial  reserve,  and  soon  became  separated 
from  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade.  After  remaining  in 


COLD    HARBOK.  225 

the  rear,  lying  down,  for  perhaps  half  an  hour,  General  Hood 
came  for  us,  and  moving  by  the  right  flank  about  half  a  mile, 
halted  us  in  an  open  space  to  the  right  of  some  timber,  and  in 
rear  of  an  apple  orchard.  The  sight  which  we  here  beheld 
beggars  description.  The  ground  was  strewn  with  the  dead  and. 
dying,  while  our  ranks  were  broken  at  every  instant  by  flying 
and  panic-stricken  soldiers.  In  front  of  us  was  the  '  Old  3d 
brigade,'  who,  but  a  few  moments  before,  had  started  with 
cheers  to  storm  the  fatal  palisade.  But  the  storm  of  iron  and 
lead  was  too  severe,  they  '  wavered '  for  a  moment,  and  fell  upon 
the  ground.  At  this  instant  General  Hood,  who  had,  in  per- 
son, taken  command  of  our  regiment,  commanded  in  his  clear 
ringing  voice,  '  Forward,  quick,  march,'  and  onward  moved 
the  little  band  of  five  hundred,  with  the  coolness  of  veterans. 
Here  Colonel  Marshall  fell  dead  from  his  horse,  pierced  by  a 
Mime  ball.  Volleys  of  musketry,  and  showers  of  grape,  cani- 
ster, and  shell  ploughed  through  us,  but  were  only  answered  by 
the  stern  '  Close  up — close  up  to  the  colors,'  and  onward  they 
rushed  over  the  dead  and  dying,  without  a  pause,  until  within 
about  one  hundred  yards  of  the  breastworks.  We  had  reached 
the  apex  of  the  hill,  and  some  of  the  men  seeing  the  enemy  just 
before  them,  commenced  discharging  their  pieces.  It  was  at 
this  point  that  preceding  brigades  had  halted,  and  beyond 
which  none  'had  gone,  in  consequence  of  the  terrible  concentra- 
ted fire  of  the  concealed  enemy.  At  this  critical  juncture  the 
voice  of  General  Hood  was  heard  above  the  din  of  battle, 
"Forward,  forward,  charge  right  down  on  them,  and  drive 
them  out  with  the  bayonet.'  Fi^ng  bayonets  as  they  moved, 
they  made  one  grand  rush  for  the  fort ;  down  the  hill,  across 
the  creek  and  fallen  timber,  and  the  next  minute  saw  our  battle 
flag  planted  upon  the  captured  breastwork.  The  enemy,  fright- 
ened at  the  rapid  approach  of  pointed  steel,  rose  from  behind 
their  defences,  and  started  up  the  hill  at  speed.  One  volley  was 
poured  into  their  back?,  and  it  seemed  as  if  every  ball  found  a 
victim,  so  great  was  the  slaughter.  Their  works  were  ours, 
and,  as  our  flag  moved  from  the  first  to  the  second  tier  of  de- 
15 


226  Lli'E   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

fences,  a  sliout  arose  from  the  shattered  remnant  of  that  regi- 
ment, and  which  will  long  be  remembered  by  those  who  heard 
it ;  a  shout  which  announced  that  the  wall  of  death  was  bro  ken, 
and  victory,  which  had  hovered  doubtfully  for  hours  over  that 
bloody  field,  had  at  length  perched  upon  the  battle  flag  of  the 
4th  Texas.  Right  and  left  it  was  taken  up  and  rang  along  the 
lines  for  miles  ;  long  after  many  of  those  who  had  started  it 
were  in  eternity." 

The  movements  which  we  have  here  referred  to,  took  place 
together  all  along  the  line.  The  declining  sun  looked  down 
upon  a  conflict  of  unspeakable  desperation  and  bitterness,  and 
hour  after  hour  the  battle  continued  to  rage,  growing  madder 
and  more  bloody  as  the  shades  of  night  drew  near.  With  in- 
tense but  thoroughly  suppressed  excitement,  Jackson  moved  to 
and  fro,  receiving  despatches,  issuing  orders,  gazing  at  any  one 
who  spoke  to  him  with  a  quick  flash  of  the  dark  keen  eye,  and 
speaking  in  the  curt,  brief  accents  which  characterized  him. 
He  listened  intently  to  the  crash  of  musketry  which  issued  from 
the  woods  in  front,  and  waited.  The  sound  did  not  shift  its  di- 
rection, no  change  in  the  position  of  the  combatants  was  dis- 
cernible, and  the  roar  continued,  incessant  and  undiminished. 
It  was  obvious  that  the  Federal  forces  had  not  been  repulsed, 
and  toward  dusk  a  courier  galloped  up  and  delivered  a  message 
from  one  of  the  generals  that  "  the  enemy  did  not  give  way." 

Jackson's  eyes  glittered  under  his  cap,  and  in  words  which 
issued  with  a  species  of  jerk,  one  by  one  as  it  were,  from  his  lips, 
he  said :  "  Tell  him  if  they  stand  at  sunset  to  press  them  with 
the  bayonet ! " 

General  Stuart,  who  was  near,  said :  "  You  had  better  send  a 
second  messenger,  General,  this  one  may  be  shot." 

Jackson  nodded,  and  turning  to  a  mounted  man,  said  •  "  You 
go." 

Major  Pendleton  of  his  staff,  however,  volunteered,  and  bore 
the  duplicate  order,  and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  result  was 
perceived.  The  musketry  fire  had  been  heavy  before,  it  now 
became  frightful.  The  order  to  charge  with  the  bayonet  had 


GENERAL   McCLELLAN   RETREATS   TO   JAMES   KIVEK.     227 

been  obeyed,  and  the  Confederate  lines  advanced,  carrying  all 
before  them.  In  spite  of  the  terrible  fire  from  the  triple  line  of 
Federal  infantry  on  the  ridge,  and  the  incessant  cannonade  of 
the  batteries  in  front  and  flank,  they  steadily  swept  on,  and  be- 
fore this  determined  charge  the  Federal  lines  gave  way.  They 
were  driven  from  the  raviues  and  swamps  to  the  first  tier  of 
breastworks,  over  which  the  Confederates  charged  upon  the 
crest  blazing  with  artillery.  This  last  line  was  stormed  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet,  and  abandoning  their  pieces  the  Federal 
troops  fell  back  in  the  wildest  disorder. 

The  battle  was  over,  and,  posted  in  advance  of  his  batteries, 
near  the  Old  Cold  Harbor  house,  his  figure  clearly  revealed  by 
the  fires  which  the  shell  had  kindled,  Jackson,  whose  corps  had 
decided  the  event,  listened  to  the  wild  cheers  of  his  men,  as 
they  pressed  the  retreating  enemy  toward  Grapevine  bridge. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

GENERAL   McCLELLAN   RETREATS   TO    JAMES   RIVER. 

.  WHEN  night  fell  on  Friday,  June  27th,  1862,  General  Mc- 
Clellan  was  defeated. 

Thenceforth  the  only  question  was,  how  could  he  withdraw 
his  shattered  and  disheartened  forces  to  a  place  of  safety.  Two 
lines  of  retreat  were  open,  both  perilous :  One  down  the  Pen- 
insula, with  the  vengeful  Confederates  assailing  him  at  every 
step,  forcing  him  to  turn  and  give  battle  day  by  day,  if  indeed 
the  first  encounter  did  not  terminate  in  the  destruction  of  his 
command.  The  other  toward  James  River,  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  Chickahominy,  right  through  the  Confederate  lines, 
through  swamps  and  streams,  over  treacherous  roads,  through 
the  tangled  morass,  with  Lee  on  his  rear  and  flank,  ready  to 
destroy  him. 

Neither  prospect  was  inviting,  but  rapid  decision  was  neces- 


228  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

sary;    and   General   McClellan   determined  to  retreat   towarc 
Harrison's  Landing  on  James  River. 

The  condition  of  things  at  the  end  of  the  battle,  and  the 
state  of  the  Federal  troops,  is  well  described  by  a  correspondent 
of  the  New  York  "  Tribune."  The  first  sentences  contain  a 
statement  of  the  impression  produced  upon  the  Federal  troops 
by  Jackson's  appearance  at  Cold  Harbor : 

"  My  note-book,"  writes  the  correspondent,  "  says  that,  at 
six  o'clock,  the  enemy  commenced  a  determined  attack  on  our 
extreme  right,  evidently  with  a  design  of  flanking  us.  It  was 
an  awful  firing  that  resounded  from  that  smoke-clouded  valley — 
not  heavier  than  some  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  engagement, 
but  more  steady  and  determined.  It  was  only  by  overbearing 
exhausted  men  with  fresh  ones,  that  the  enemy  succeeded  in 
turning  that  flank,  as,  at  length,  he  did  succeed,  only  too  well ; 
and  he  accomplished  it  in  three-quarters  of  an  hour.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time,  our  officers  judiciously  ordered  their 
men  to  fall  back ;  the  order  was  not  obeyed  so  judiciously,  for 
they  ran  back,  broken,  disordered,  routed.  Simultaneously  the 
wounded  and  skulkers  about  the  buildings  used  as  hospitals, 
caught  a  panic,  whether  from  a  few  riderless  horses  plunging 
madly  across  the  field,  or  from  instantaneously  scenting  the 
rout,  does  not  appear.  A  motley  mob  started  pell-mell  for  the 
bridges.  They  were  overtaken  by  many  just  from  the  woods, 
and  it  seemed  as  if  Bull  Run  were  to  be  repeated. 

"  Meanwhile  the  panic  extended.  Scores  of  gallant  officers 
endeavored  to  rally  and  re-form  the  stragglers,  but  in  vain ; 
while  many  officers  forgot  the  pride  of  their  shoulder-straps,  and 
the  honor  of  their  manhood,  and  herded  with  the  sneaks  and 
cowards.  O,  that  I  had  known  the  names  of  those  officers  I 
saw,  the  brave  and  the  cowardly,  that  here,  now,  I  might  reward 
and  punish,  by  directing  upon  each  individual  the  respect  or  the 
contempt  of  a  whole  people  ! 

"  That  scene  was  not  one  to  be  forgotten.  Scores  of  rider- 
less, terrified  horses,  dashing  in  every  direction ;  fhick  flying 
bullets  singing  by,  admonishing  of  danger  ;  "very  nauute  a  man 


GENERAL   MoCLELLAN   RETREATS   TO   JAMES   RIVER.     229' 

struck  down ;  wagons  and  ambulances  and  cannon  blockading 
the  way ;  wounded  men  limping  and  groaning  and  bleeding 
amid  the  throng ;  officers  and  civilians  denouncing,  and  reason- 
ing, and  entreating,  and  being  insensibly  borne  along  with  the 
mass  ;  the  sublime  cannonading,  the  clouds  of  battle-smoke,  and 
the  sun  just  disappearing,  large  and  Wood-red — I  cannot  picture 
it,  but  I  see  it,  and  always  shall."  • 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th  it  was  ascertained  that  a  por- 
tion of  the  Federal  force  still  remained  on  the  northern  bank  of 
the  Chickahominy ;  and  as  General  Lee  had  no  assurance  that 
they  would  not  push  forward  reinforcements  from  the  Peninsu- 
la, and  make  another  effort  to  preserve  their  communications,, 
and  save  the  enormous  accumulation  of  public  stores  at  the 
White  House,  General  Ewell  was  sent  forward  to  Dispatch  Sta- 
tion, about  one  mile  east  of  the  Chickahominy,  on  the  York- 
River  Railroad,  with  orders  to  seize  the  road,  and  cut  the  ene- 
my's communications  with  the  White  House.  In  this  movement 
General  Stuart  cooperated  with  his  cavalry,  advancing  in  front 
of  Ewell,  and  encountering  the  enemy  at  Dispatch. 

As  soon  as  Stuart's  cavalry  dashed  up,  the  Federal  forces  at 
this  point  retreated  in  haste  .across  the  Chickahominy,  burning 
the  railroad  bridge  in  their  rear,  and  Ewell  coming  up,  destroyed 
a  portion  of  the  track  of  the  road. 

General  Stuart  then  proceeded  down  the  railroad,  to  ascer- 
tain if  there  was  any  movement  of  the  enemy  in  that  direction,, 
and  reaching  the  White  House,  attacked  and  drove  off  a  gun- 
boat, which  was  still  in  the  river  at  that  place.  With  a  Blakely 
gun  Captain  John  Pelham  attacked  the  dark-hulled  "  monster,"" 
as  the  journals  then  styled  these  vessels,  drove  it  from  its  moor- 
ings, and  chased  it  down  the  river,  until  it  disappeared  behind 
the  wooded  bend.  At  General  Stuart's  approach,  the  officer 
commanding  at  the  White  House  had  set  fire  to  the  great  masses 
of  stores  there,  and  retreated  down  the  Peninsula.  As  the  cav- 
alry galloped  up,  the  scene  was  one  mass  of  crackling  flames 
and  lurid  smoke,  through  which  were  visible  the  blackened  ruins 
pi  the  "White  House"  mansion,  the  property  of  Colonel  W. 


230  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

H.  F.  Lee,  son  of  the  Confederate  commander,  and  the  scene 
of  Washington's  marriage.  From  the  burning  mass  General 
Stuart  rescued  several  railroad  engines,  and  about  10,000  stand 
of  arms,  partially  burned  ;  and  on  the  next  day,  leaving  a 
squadron  to  hold  the  position,  hastened  back  to  bear  his  part  in 
the  great  scenes  which  still  continued  to  attract  all  eyes  to  the 
banks  of  the  Chickahominy. 

Let  us  go  back  to  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  June,  when 
Stuart  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  the  White  House.  Up  to 
the  moment  when  the  Federal  forces  retreated  from  Dispatch, 
burning  the  railroad  bridge,  and  crossing  to  the  south  side  of  the 
stream,  the  intentions  of  General  McClellan  were  undeveloped. 
It  then  became  plain  that  he  had  abandoned  the  line  of  the  York 
River  Railroad ;  and  early  in  the  forenoon,  the  clouds  of  dust 
which  rose  from  the  southern  bank  of  the  Chickahominy,  indi- 
cated that  the  Federal  troops  were  in  motion.  Their  destina- 
tion still,  however,  remained  unknown.  No  certain  evidences 
of  McClellan's  intention  to  retreat  toward  Harrison's  Landing 
were  observed,  and  as  he  still  had  at  his  command  Bottom's  and 
Long  bridges  over  the  Chickahominy  below,  the  line  of  retreat 
down  the  Peninsula  remained  open.  To  frustrate  any  move- 
ment in  that  direction,  Ewell  was  ordered  to  move  from  Dispatch 
to  Bottom's  bridge,  on  the  main  road  from  Richmond  to  Wil- 
liamsburg ;  and  Stuart,  on  the  next  day,  pushed  on  with  his 
cavalry,  to  guard  the  bridges  still  lower  down. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  28th,  the  Federal  works  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Chickahominy,  in  front  of  Richmond,  were  re- 
ported to  be  fully  manned,  and  their  forces  exhibited  no  inten- 
tion of  retiring.  Here,  however,  commenced  that  run  of  good 
fortune  which  General  McClellan  derived  from  the  character  of  the 
ground.  The  densely-wooded  lowgrounds,  penetrated  only  by 
Harrow  and  winding  roads,  enabled  the  Federal  commander  to 
make  his  dispositions  without  chance  of  discovery ;  and  at  the 
moment  when  his  frowning  fortifications  bristled  with  heavy 
guns,  with  cannoneers  at  their  posts,  rapid  arrangements  were 
being  made  to  retreat  to  James  River.  During  the  night  these 


GENERAL   McCLELLAN   RETREATS   TO   JAMES   RIVER.     231 

movements  were  too  general  to  be  longer  concealed,  and  it  was 
soon  discovered  that  the  entire  Federal  army  was  in  full  retreat. 

Then  commenced  the  great  movement  which  will  long  be  re- 
membered  for  the  horrors  which  accompanied  it.  The  Confed- 
erates followed  at  dawn ;  and  we  shall  proceed  to  narrate  briefly 
the  events  which  ensued,  without  undertaking  to  decide  upon  the 
charges  of  grave  neglect  of  duty  preferred  by  public  opinioi* 
against  some  of  the  Confederate  officers,  for  permitting  the  Fed- 
eral forces  to  elude  them.  General  Huger  was  to  move  by  the 
Charles  City  road,  so  as  to  strike  the  flank  of  the  retreating 
column  ;  and  General  Magruder  by  the  Williamsburg  road,  in 
order  to  assail  their  rear.  Jackson,  who  had  remained  on  the 
northern  bank  of  the  Chickahominy  both  to  cut  off  their  retreat 
down  the  Peninsula  and  from  his  inability  to  cross  until  the 
bridges  destroyed  by  the  enemy  in  their  rear  were  reconstructed, 
was  no\v  ordered  to  cross  to  the  south  bank,  and  move  directly 
down  the  stream  to  cooperate  with  Magruder  in  the  attack  upon 
the  Federal  rear. 

On  the  night  of  the  29th,  accordingly,  Jackson,  now  rejoined 
by  Ewell,  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  the  new  scene  of  opera- 
tions, crossing  at  Grapevine  bridge,  a  short  distance  north  of  the 
railroad.  This  bridge  had  furnished  an  avenue  of  retreat  to 
General  McClellan,  on  the  night  of  the  27th,  when  his  forces 
fell  back  from  Cold  Harbor  ;  and  having  passed  over  the  rolling 
structure  of  loose  logs,  half  buried  in  the  slushy  soil,  he  had  de- 
stroyed it  behind  him.  Jackson  hastily  reconstructed  it,  and 
pushed  forward  without  pause  toward  Savage  Station*,  the  line 
of  the  enemy's  retreat. 

Meanwhile  the  thunder  of  artillery  throughout  the  latter 
part  of  the  afternoon  had  indicated  the  progress  of  a  severe  en- 
gagement between  the  Federal  forces  and  Magruder.  Following 
the  retreating  column,  Magruder  had  found  their  whole  line  of 
works  deserted,  and  vast  amounts  of  military  stores  abandoned. 
Approaching  Savage's  Station  about  noon,  he  came  upon  their 
rear  guard,  and  attacked  them  with  one  of  his  divisions — the 
conflict  continuing  until  night.  The  loss  inflicted  was  consider^ 


•232  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

.able,  and  at  nightfall  General  McClellan  continued  his  retreat, 
leaving  behind  immense  amounts  of  stores  and  2,500  men  in  the 
hospitals.  The  stores  had  been  partially  burned,  and  the  enemy 
had  loaded  a  long  railroad  train  with  their  surplus  ammunition, 
gotten  the  engine  uuder  a  full  head  of  steam,  and  applying  a 
slow  match  to  the  ordnance,  started  the  diabolical  messenger  on 
jts  way  toward  the  Chickahominy.  The  engine  rushed  on  with 
its  dangerous  freight  until  it  reached  the  destroyed  bridge,  where 
the  train  blew  up  with  a  roar  which  was  heard  more  than  thirty 
.miles — the  cars  rolling,  torn  to  pieces,  into  the  river ;  the  grimy 
•engine  hanging  like  some  inanimate  monster  on  the  very  brink 
<of  the  trestle  work,  in  the  centre  of  the  stream,  where,  by  some 
.strange  chance,  it  had  not  toppled  over. 

The  enemy's  stand  at  Savage's  Station  had  been  made  with 
•the  design  of  covering  the  further  retreat  of  their  main  body. 
.In  this  they  succeeded,  and,  crossing  White  Oak  Swamp  with- 
iout  interruption,  they  destroyed  the  bridge  behind  them  and 
were  comparatively  safe. 

Jackson  reached  Savage's  Station  on  the  morning  of  the 
30th,  and  gathered  up  about  1,000  stragglers  from  the  Federal 
.army.  He  did  not  delay  his  march,  and  pushing  on,  came  up 
with  the  enemy  at  White  Oak  Swamp,  where  they  had  assumed 
;a  position  behind  the  destroyed  bridge,  which  rendered  the  pas- 
sage of  the  stream  in  their  front  impossible.  His  artillery  was 
placed  in  position,  and  a  steady  cannonade  commenced — during 
which  a  severe  action  known  as  the  battle  of  Frayser's  Farm 
took  place  lower  down. 

Longstreet  and  A.  P.  Hill  had  pushed  forward,  and  soon 
•came  upon  the  Federal  forces  strongly  posted  on  the  Long  bridge  • 
road,  about  a  mile  from  its  intersection  with  the  Charles  City 
road.  General  Huger  had  reported  that  his  progress  was  ob- 
structed, but  about  four  p.  M.  firing  was  heard  on  the  Charles 
City  road,  which  was  supposed  to  indicate  his  approach ;  and 
Longstreet  opened  with  his  artillery  to  announce  his  presence. 
A  fierce  and  sanguinary  conflict  followed  between  the  enemy 
*od  Longstreet  reenforced  by  A.  P.  Hill.  General  Huger  did 


MALVEKK    HILL.  233 

not  come  up,  and  Jackson  was  unable  to  force  the  passage  of 
White  Oak  Swamp :  thus  the  two  first-named  commands  bore 
the  brunt  of  the  whole  battle,  which  raged  furiously  until  nine 
o'clock  at  night.  At  that  hour  the  Federal  forces  had  been 
driven  with  great  slaughter  from  every  position  but  one,  which 
they  maintained  until  darkness  settled  down  upon  the  woods. 
Under  the  cover  of  night  they  continued  to  fall  back,  leaving 
their  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field,  several  thousands  of  small 
arms  scattered  about,  and  large  numbers  of  prisoners,  including 
a  general  of  division. 

The  battle  of  Frayser's  Farm  was  the  turning  point  of  the 
drama.  General  McClellan  fought  with  desperation,  and  man- 
aged to  hold  his  ground  until  night,  when  he  continued  his  re- 
treat toward  James  River. 


CHAPTER  V. 

MALVEEN      HILL. 

EARLY  on  the  next  morning — the  1st  of  July — Jackson  forced 
the  passage  of  White  Oak  Swamp,  captured  a  part  of  the  Fed- 
eral artillery,  and  pressing  forward^reached  the  battle-field  of 
the  evening  before,  where  he  was  assigned  to  the  front  by  Gen- 
eral Lee,  and  immediately  continued  the  pursuit. 

His  presence  infused  new  ardor  into  the  movement,  and,  ad- 
vancing down  the  Willis  Church  road,  under  an  incessant  fire 
from  the  Federal  rear  guard,  he  found  himself  in  front  of  Mal- 
vun  Hill. 

On  this  powerful  position  General  McClellan  had  drawn  up 
his  entire  army  to  repel  the  assault  of  his  obstinate  and  untiring 
foes.  His  left  rested  near  Crewe's  house,  and  his  right  near 
Binford's.  His  infantry  was  behind  hastily  constructed  earth- 
works, and  his  artillery  so  massed  as  to  concentrate  a  deadly  fire 
upon  every  avenue  of  approach.  In  front  the  ground  was  open 
for  about  half  a  mile,  and  sloping  gradually  from  the  crest  occu- 


234  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

pied  by  the  Federal  forces,  was  completely  swept  by  their  infan- 
try and  artillery.  To  reach  this  open  ground,  the  Confederate 
troops  were  compelled  to  advance  through  a  broken  and  thickly- 
wooded  country,  traversed  by  streams  and  swamps,  passable  in 
very  few  places  ;  and  this  whole  ground  was  in  easy  range  of 
the  batteries  on  the  heights  as  well  as  the  gunboats  in  the  river. 

A  more  formidable  position  in  which  to  repulse  an  assault 
can  scarcely  be  imagined,  and  the  sequel  plainly  pointed  out  the 
good  generalship  of  the  officer  who  had  selected  it. 

General  Lee  determined  to  attack,  and  immediately  made 
his  dispositions  for  battle.  Jackson  formed  his  line  with 
Whiting's  division  on  the  left  and  D.  H.  Hill's  on  the  right — one 
of  Ewell's  brigades  occupying  the  interval  between  them.  The 
rest  of  Ewell's  and  Jackson's  old  division  were  held  in  reserve 
in  the  woods  near  Willis'  Church.  On  the  right  of  Jackson's 
line  were  posted  two  of  General  Huger's  brigades,  and  on  the 
extreme  right  of  the  Confederate  line  General  Magruder's  com- 
mand was  stationed.  Longstreet  and  A.  P.  Hill  were  held  in 
reserve,  and  took  no  part  in  the  action.  These  dispositions  were 
not  made  until  late  in  the  afternoon — the  dense  woods  almost 
wholly  interrupting  communication.  The  same  circumstance 
prevented  a  sufficient  amount  of  artillery  from  being  thrown  into 
action ;  and  under  these  disheartening  circumstances  the  battle 
commenced. 

Malvern  Hill  was  less  a  battle,  scientifically  disputed,  than  a 
bloody  combat  in  which  masses  of  men  rushed  forward  and  were 
swept  away  by  the  terrible  fire  of  artillery  concentrated  in  their 
front.  D.  H.  Hill,  hearing,  as  he  supposed,  the  signal  from 
General  Lee  for  a  general  advance,  put  his  lines  in  motion,  and 
advanced  to  attack  the  tremendous  position  before  him.  He 
was  resolutely  met,  and  so  hard  pressed  that  he  was  compelled 
to  call  urgently  for  reinforcements.  Jackson  promptly  sent  for- 
ward Ewell's  reserve  and  his  own  division ;  but  owing  to  the 
swampy  nature  of  the  ground,  the  thick  undergrowth,  and  gath- 
ering darkness,  their  march  was  so  much  retarded  that  they  did 
not  arrive  in  time  to  enable  Hill  to  maintain  his  position,  and  he 


MALVERN    HILL.  235 

was  forced  to  fall  back  with  heavy  loss.  On  the  left,  Whiting, 
with  his  batteries,  drove  back  an  advance  of  the  Federal  line 
upon  Taylor's  brigade,  holding  Jackson's  centre  ;  but  this  was 
decisive  of  no  results. 

On  the  right  the  command  of  Magruder  and  Huger  gallantly 
advanced  to  the  attack.  Several  determined  efforts  were  made 
to  storm  the  Federal  position  near  Crewe's  house,  and  the  bri- 
gades advanced  without  faltering  across  the  open  field,  in  face 
of  a  hundred  pieces  of  artillery  which  tore  their  lines  as  they 
rushed  forward,  and  a  deadly  and  destructive  fire  of  musketry 
from  the  masses  of  infantry  upon  the  crest.  As  they  approached 
the  hill  some  of  the  brigades  gave  way,  and  recoiled  before  the 
awful  fire  directed  upon  them  ;  but  others  continued  to  advance, 
and,  charging  the  Federal  guns,  drove  them  and  their  infantry 
supports  from  the  position,  leaving  their  dead  mingled  with 
those  of  the  Federal  troops  upon  the  hill. 

But  these  efforts  were  all  unavailing.  The  position  of  the 
enemy  was  so  powerful,  and  the  absence  of  concert  between  the 
Confederate  columns  so  fatal,  that  the  Federal  lines  remained 
unbroken  ;  and  after  struggling  desperately  to  hold  the  ground 
thus  won,  the  Confederate  lines  were  compelled  to  fall  back  and 
surrender  their  hard-earned  advantage.  The  firing  continued 
until  nine  at  night,  when  silence  settled  upon  the  battle-field,  and 
the  weary  troops  lay  down  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  Fed- 
eral guns. 

Such  was  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  one  of  the  most  fierce 
and  sanguinary  engagements  of  the  war.  Our  sketch  has  been 
tame  and  unequal  to  the  subject ;  perhaps  the  reader  may  find 
in  the  following  sentences  of  a  newspaper  writer,  soon  after  the 
action,  a  more  animated  description : 

"General  McClellan,"  says  this  writer,  "prepared,  in  the 
language  of  one  of  his  officers,  to  '  clothe  the  hill  in  sheets  of 
flame.'  Every  ravine  swarmed  with  his  thousands,  and  along 
the  crest  of  every  hill  flashed  forth  his  numerous  artillery,  hav- 
ing for  the  most  part  an  unbroken  play  over  the  ascending  slope, 
and  across  cleared  fields  of  twelve  hundred  yards  in  length. 


236  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  formidable  nature  of  this  position  it 
was  determined  to  attack  him,  and  late  in  the  afternoon  of 
Tuesday,  July  1st,  this  tremendous  contest  commenced.  Soon 
Malvern  Hill  was  sheeted  with  ascending  and  descending  flames 
of  fire.  Thirty-seven  pieces  of  artillery,  supported  at  a  greater 
distance  by  heavy  and  more  numerous  batteries,  and  by  his  gun- 
boats, kept  faithful  ward  over  the  enemy's  position,  and  ploughed 
through  our  columns  even  before  they  could  see  the  enemy  or 
deploy  into  line  of  battle.  Undismayed  by  the  most  terrific  can- 
nonading of  the  war,  the  advance  of  Magruder's  forces  com- 
menced. Onward^  in  the  face  of  a  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  they 
pressed  forward,  until  within  musket  range  of  the  enemy,  and 
then  they  opened  their  fire.  Whole  lines  of  the  enemy  fell  as 
they  stood,  or,  attempting  retreat,  were  overtaken  by  the  bullets 
of  our  troops,  who  never  veered  in  their  aim  or  recoiled  while 
the  enemy's  infantry  remained  in  range  ;  and  when  forced  back 
for  a  time  by  the  avalanche  of  converging  artillery,  yet  when  the 
infantry  of  the  enemy  ventured  again  beyond  their  batteries,  our 
lines  advanced  with  shout  and  bayonet  and  drove  them  back 
among  the  reserves  and  behind  the  wall  of  fire  which  flamed 
along  the  mouths  of  the  circling  cannon.  Thus  the  contest 
ebbed  and  flowed  until  night  spread  its  mantle  on  the  battle- 
field. 

"  The  batteries  of  the  enemy  were  not  captured  by  assault, 
because  no  line  of  men  could  live  in  their  converging  fires,  sweep- 
ing unobstructed  the  attacking  forces  for  twelve  hundred  yards, 
but  his  line  of  infantry  was  repeatedly  broken  with  frightful 
slaughter  by  the  fierce  charges  of  our  troops,  who  held  their 
position  and  slept  on  the  field,  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the 
enemy's  guns.  The  extent  of  the  carnage  of  the  enemy  no  onr 
imagined  until  daylight  revealed  it  in  the  horrors  of  the  battle 
field.  Our  dead  lay  close  together,  producing  thus  upon  the  be- 
holder an  exaggerated  impression  of  the  number  ;  but  an  exam- 
ination showed  that  the  loss  of  the  enemy  much  exceeded  ours. 
His  dead  lay  everywhere — here  in  line  of  battle,  there  in  wild 
confusion  of  rout  and  retreat ;  not  a  ravine,  not  a  glade,  not  a 


MALVEEN    HILL.  237 

hill  that  was  not  dotted  by  their  mangled  forms,  while  every 
dwelling,  outhouse,  barn  and  stable  for  miles  around,  was 
crowded  with  their  dead  and  dying.  In  many  places  groups  of 
dead  were  found  distant  from  the  battle-field,  where  it  was  evi- 
dent they  were  carried,  with  the  intent  of  bearing  them  to  the 
river,  and  where  they  were  roughly  and  rudely  tossed  on  the 
wayside  when  the  panic  overtook  their  escort.  Every  indication 
showed  the  wildest  flight  of  the  enemy.  Cannon  and  caissons 
were  abandoned,  and  for  miles  the  road  was  filled  with  knap- 
sacks, rifles,  muskets,  etc.  Loaded  wagons  were  left  on  the 
road,  with  vast  quantities  of  ammunition  unexploded.  Caisson 
drivers  opened  their  ammunition  chests,  and  threw  out  their 
powder  and  round  shot  to  lighten  their  loads,  to  enable  them  to 
keep  up  with  the  rapid  flight.  It  is  hazarding  but  little  to  say 
that  when  night  put  an  end  to  the  battle,  the  whole  army  of  Me- 
Clellan,  with  the  exception  of  the  artillery,  and  its  diminished 
infantry  guard  near  Crewe's  and  Turner's  houses,  was  utterly 
disorganized,  and  had  become  a  mob  of  stragglers.  At  daylight 
aext  morning  nothing  could  be  seen  of  his  army  except  some 
cavalry  pickets  that  in  the  distance  observed  our  advance.  We 
do  not  believe  that  15,000  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Potomac 
retpeated  from  the  bloody  heights  of  Malvern  Hill  as  soldiery. 
If  nature  had  scooped  out  the  bed  of  James  River,  twenty  miles 
distant  from  Malvern  Hill,  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Potomac 
would  have  ceased  to  exist." 

The  Federal  army  had  indeed  retreated  in  the  night  to  Har- 
rison's Landing,  and  the  long  agony  was  over. 


238  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

FEDERAL  ACCOUNTS  OF  THE  RETREAT. 

GENERAL  MC€LELLAN  had  thus  made  good  his  retreat,  but 
in  so  doing  he  had  passed  through  scenes  the  description  of 
which  in  army  letters  harrowed  for  many  months  the  blood  of 
the  whole  Northern  people. 

The  aim  of  this  work  is  to  present  as  faithful  a  picture  as 
possible  of  the  great  series  of  events  in  which  Jackson  took 
part,  and  the  statements  of  some  Federal  writers  will  here  be 
given  in  reference  to  General  McClellan's  retreat.  They  are 
vivid,  and  paint  the  great  lurid  picture  in  bloody  colors.  That 
picture  is  a  part  of  the  present  subject,  since  Jackson's  corps 
first  broke  the  Federal  lines  and  compelled  them  to  fall  back  ; 
and  his  troops  followed  closely  on  the  Federal  rear,  and  largely 
contributed  to  the  decisive  result.  A  correspondent  of  the  New 
York  "  Tribune"  thus  describes  the  scene  : 

"  Huddled  among  the  wagons  were  10,000  stragglers — for 
the  credit  of  the  nation  be  it  said  that  four-fifths  of  them  were 
wounded,  sick,  or  utterly  exhausted,  and  could  not  have  stirred 
but  for  dread  of  the  tobacco  warehouses  of  the  South.  The  con- 
fusion of  this  herd  of  men  and  mules,  wagons  and  wounded, 
men  on  horses,  men  on  foot,  men  by  the  roadside,  men  perched 
on  wagons,  men  searching  for  water,  men  famishing  for  food, 
men  lame  and  bleeding,  men  with  ghostly  eyes,  looking  out 
between  bloody  bandages,  that  hid  the  face — turn  to  some  vivid 
account  of  the  most  pitiful  part  of  Napoleon's  retreat  from  Rus- 
sia, and  fill  out  the  picture — the  grim,  gaunt,  bloody  picture  of 
war  in  its  most  terrible  features. 

"  It  was  determined  to  move  on  during  the  night.  The  dis- 
tance to  Turkey  Island  bridge,  the  point  on  James  River  which 
was  to  be  reached,  by  the  direct  road,  was  six  miles.  But  those 
vast  numbers  could  not  move  over  one  narrow  road  in  days , 


FEDERAL  ACCOUNTS  OF  THE  ESTREAT.        239 

hence  every  by-road,  no  matter  how  circuitous,  had  been  searched 
out  by  questioning  prisoners  and  by  cavalry  excursions.  Every 
one  was  filled  by  one  of  the  advancing  columns.  The  whole 
front  was  in  motion  by  seven  P.M.,  General  Keyes  in  command 
of  the  advance. 

"  I  rode  with  General  Howe's  brigade  of  Couch's  division, 
taking  a  wagon  track  through  dense  woods  and  precipitous  ra- 
vines winding  sinuously  far  around  to  the  left,  and  striking  the 
river  some  distance  below  Turkey  Island.  Commencing  at 
dusk,  the  march  continued  until  daylight.  The  night  was  dark 
and  fearful.  Heavy  thunder  rolled  in  turn  along  each  point  of 
the  heavens,  and  dark  clouds  spread  the  entire  canopy.  We 
were  forbidden  to  speak  aloud ;  or,  lest  the  light  of  a  cigar 
should  present  a  target  for  an  ambushed  rifle,  we  were  cautioned 
not  to  smoke.  Ten  miles  of  weary  marching,  with  frequent 
halts,  as  some  one  of  the  hundred  vehicles  of  the  artillery  train, 
in  our  centre,  by  a  slight  deviation  crashed  against  a  tree,  wore 
away  the  hours  to  dawn,  when  we  were  debouched  into  a  magni- 
ficent wheat  field,  and  the  smoke  stack  of  the  Galena  was  in 
sight.  Xenophon's  remnant  of  ten  thousand,  shouting, '  The  sea  ! 
the  sea !'  were  not  more  glad  than  we." 

It  is  certain  that  the  whole  Federal  army  shared  this  feeling. 
Another  writer  in  the  New  York  "  Times  "  says  :  "  When  an  aid 
of  General  McClellan  rode  back  and  reported  that  the  way  was 
all  open  to  James  River,  a  thrill  of  relief  ran  through  the  whole 
line,  and  the  sight  of  the  green  fields  skirting  its  banks  was  in- 
deed an  oasis  in  the  terrible  desert  of  suspense  and  apprehension 
through  which  they  had  passed.  The  teams  were  now  put  upon  a 
lively  trot,  in  order  to  relieve  the  pressure  upon  that  portion 
still  in  the  rear.  4 

"  General  McClellau  and  staff  rode  ahead  and  took  posses- 
sion of  the  old  estate  known  as  Malvern  Hill,  one  mile  back 
from  Turkey  Island  Bend.  It  is  a  large,  old-fashioned  estate, 
originally  built  by  the  French,  and  has  near  it,  in  front,  an  old 
-earthwork  constructed  by  General  Washington  during  the 
Revolutionary  War.  It  has  a  spacious  yard  shaded  by  vener- 


LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

able  elms  and  other  trees.  A  fine  view  of  the  river  can  be 
had  from  this  elevated  position.  General  McClellan  expressed 
the  opinion  that,  with  a  brief  time  to  prepare,  the  position 
could  be  held  against  any  force  the  enemy  can  bring  against 
us. 

"  Exhausted  by  long  watching  and  fatigue,  and  covered 
thickly  with  the  dust  of  the  road  over  which  we  had  passed, 
many  officers  threw  themselves  upon  the  shady  and  grassy  lawn 
to  rest.  The  soldiers  also,  attracted  by  the  shady  trees,  sur- 
rounded the  house,  or  bivouacked  in  the  fields  near  by.  Gen- 
eral McClellan  immediately  addressed  himself  to  the  task  of  pre- 
pariag  despatches  for  the  Government." 

From  the  composition  of  his  despatches  General  McClellan 
was  diverted  by  the  intelligence  that  the  enemy  were  approach- 
ing to  attack  him  in  his  last  stronghold.  That  attack  was  soon 
made  and  General  McClellan  was  able,  as  we  have  seen,  by 
massing  his  artillery  upon  strong  positions,  to  repulse  the  Con- 
federate assault,  and  hold  the  ground  until  the  welcome  shades 
of  night  put  an  end  to  the  contest.  But  the  battle  of  Malvern 
Hill*  indecisive  as  it  appeared,  had  a  conclusive  effect  upon  the 
Federal  army.  The  frightful  carnage  which  took  place  in  their 
ranks  bore  heavily  upon  the  spirits  of  men  who  were  completely 
exhausted  by  the  prostrating  fatigue  and  excitement  of  six  days 
of  marching  and  fighting,  almost  without  rest  or  food.  From 
the  26th  of  June,  the  Federal  troops  had  had  no  breathing  space. 
They  were  either  engaged  in  desperate  combat,  or  retreating, 
hotly  pursued.  The  Confederate  column  still  followed,  as  fresh 
and  vigorous,  to  all  appearances,  as  ever  ;  and  under  these  com- 
bined influences  of  fatigue,  famine,  disaster,  and  hopelessness,  the 
hearts  of  the  Federal  troops  sunk.  They  gave  up  ah1  further  idea 
of  victory ;  many  threw  down  their  arms,  and  sauve  qui  pent 
was  now  the  order  of  the  day  throughout  almost  the  entire  Fed- 
eral army.  They  no  longer  looked  forward  toward  the  Con- 
federate lines,  but  backward  toward  Harrison's  Landing,  where, 
under  the  shelter  of  the  gunboats,  they  saw  their  only  hope  of 
extrication  from  the  horrors  which  surrounded  them.  Broken. 


FEDERAL  ACCOUNTS  OF  THE  KETREAT.        241 

in  spirit,  prostrated  physically,  and  seeing  in  further  contests 
additional  disaster  only,  they  gave  up  the  struggle,  straggled 
away,  and  arrived  at  the  haven  of  safety  a  confused  and 
disorderly  mob,  rather  than  a  disciplined  and  effective  army. 

The  following  paragraph,  from  the  correspondent  of  the 
New  York  "  Tribune,"  at  Harrison's  Landing,  on  the  2d  of 
July,  describes  the  demeanor  of  General  McClellan,  and  the 
condition  of  his  troops  : 

"  General  McClellan  came  on  board  the  mail  boat,  greatly 
perturbed.  He  met  General  Patterson  as  he  stepped  on  board, 
laid  his  hand  on  his  shoulder,  and  took  him  in  a  hurried  man- 
ner into  the  aft  cabin,  or  ladies'  saloon.  As  he  went  in  he  beat 
the  air  with  his  right  hand  clenched,  from  which  all  present  in- 
ferred there  was  bad  news.  To  the  astonishment  of  the  writer, 
it  was  subsequently  explained  '  that  the  whole  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac lay  stretched  along  the  banks  of  the  river  where  we  lay, 
having  fought  their  way  all  through  from  Fair  Oaks,  a  distance 
of  thirty  miles.'  General  McClellan,  however,  claimed  that  his 
troops  '  had  fought  the  Confederates  in  superior  numbers  every 
day  for  a  week,  and  whipped  them  every  time.'  To  a  question 
as  to  the  location  of  certain  divisions  and  their  generals,  the  an- 
swer was,  '  They  are  scattered  everywhere,  but  are,  neverthe- 
less, in  a  solid,  compact  body.'  And  in  reply  to  another  remark, 
it  was  said,  '  What  we  want  is  fresh  men  ;  they  (the  troops)  are 
worked  to  death.' " 

The  great  advance  upon  Richmond  from  the  Peninsula  had 
thus  failed,  like  that  from  the  direction  of  the  Valley.  General 
McClellan's  large  army,  which  he  stated  on  his  trial  numbered 
150,000,  of  whom  112,000  were  effective  for  the  field,  had  been 
entirely  defeated,  in  battle  after  battle,  and  driven  to  seek  pro- 
tection under  the  portholes  of  the  gunboats  on  James  River. 
The  Federal  bulletins  represented  the  movement  from  Cold  Har- 
bor to  Harrison's  Landing  as  only  a  premeditated  "  change  of 
base,"  to  attain  a  more  favorable  position  for  a  new  advance  on 
Richmond ;  and  it  is  true  that  General  McClellan  foresaw  the 
attack  upon  his  right,  and  really  did  intend  to  move  his  force? 
16 


242  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

gradually  toward  James  River.  Still  it  was  obvious  that  thia 
movement  had  now  been  made  under  compulsion,  and  that  the 
safety  of  his  army  rather  than  the  attainment  of  a  stronger  po- 
sition, induced  him  to  fall  back  to  Harrison's  Landing.  In 
other  words,  the  movement  was  not  a  military  change  of  base, 
but  a  compulsory  retreat,  in  consequence  of  the  bloody  defeat  at 
Cold  Harbor ;  and  so  it  was  regarded  by  the  world.  General 
McClellan  had  evidently  suffered  a  disastrous  and  conclusive 
defeat.  He  had  played  for  a  great  stake,  and  brought  all  his 
skill  and  energy  to  bear  upon  the  game,  but  it  had  gone  against 
him.  He  was  bankrupt,  and  the  world  could  not  be  induced  to 
believe  that  he  rose  the  winner. 

The  effective  Federal  force  engaged  in  all  portions  of  the 
field  had  been,  by  General  McClellan's  subsequent  statement, 
112,000  men.  The  writer  cannot  state  the  amount  of  Confed- 
erate troops  accurately,  and  does  not  venture  to  set  down  the 
exact  number.  The  force  under  General  Lee  aftei  Jackson's 
arrival  was  generally  estimated,  however,  by  intelligent  officers 
in  the  Confederate  army  at  60,000.  It  may  be  said  with  tolera- 
ble certainty  that  it  did  not  exceed  70,000.  The  great  battles 
of  the  Chickahominy  did  not  depend,  however,  so  much  upon 
the  number  of  the  troops,  as  upon  the  skill  of  the  commanders. 
The  best  proof  of  General  Lee's  abilities  as  a  soldier,  lies  in 
the  fact  that  General  McClellan  discovered  his  adversary's  in- 
tentions, but  does  not  seem  to  have  been  able  to  counteract 
them.  On  the  25th  he  wrote  to  President  Lincoln  that  he 
"  would  probably  be  attacked  to-morrow,"  but  his  position  was 
such  that  he  could  not  guard  against  the  assault,  or  meet  it  with 
greater  success.  He  had  anticipated  this  very  movement,  but 
had  not  been  permitted  by  General  Lee  to  avoid  it  by  changing 
the  base  of  his  army  to  James  River.  The  inexorable  fate  ap- 
proached in  the  person  of  Lee ;  the  dial  pointed  to  the  destined 
hour — and  the  star  of  McClellan's  fortunes  went  down  in  blood. 

Lee  had  thus  outgeneraled  his  great  adversary,  and  reversed 
all  his  plans.  The  result  had  proved  the  Confederate  com- 
mander to  be  one  of  the  most  accomplished  soldiers  of  history ; 


FEDEEAL  ACCOUNTS  OF  THE  KETKEAT.        243 

tout  in  estimating  his  great  merits,  we  should  not  lose  sight  of 
the  admirable  fighting  qualities  of  his  troops,  or  the  conspicuous 
'abilities  of  his  subordinate  commanders.  Lee  had  shown  him- 
self to  be  a  great  captain — but  he  had  admirable  lieutenants. 
Longstreet,  the  stubborn  and  unyielding  fighter,  who,  like  the 
"  War  Horse,"  a  name  given  him  by  Lee,  seemed  to  thrill  at 
'the  u  thunder  of  the  captains  and  the  shouting,"  and  rejoice  in 
the  hard  brunt  of  action  ;  A.  P.  Hill,  the  dashing,  chivalric, 
headlong  commander  of  the  l<  Light  Division,"  who  seemed  to 
understand  with  difficulty  that  the  moment  sometimes  arrived 
when  a  general  must  fall  back  ;  Ewell,  the  blunt  and  determined 
soldier,  trained  and  confided  in  by  Jackson  ;  Magruder,  the  pas- 
sionate, excitable,  and  enterprising  leader ;  Hood,  the  daring 
and  indomitable  Texan,  tall,  powerful,  with  his  kind  face  and 
honest  smile,  but  under  all  a  will  of  iron  ;  Stuart,  the  prince  of 
cavalrymen,  with  his  native  genius  for  the  career  of  arms,  his 
daring,  nerve,  and  coolness  even  in  a  charge — that  coolness 
which  remained  unshaken,  whatever  perils  menaced  him ;  the 
generals  of  divisions  and  brigades ;  the  colonels  of  regiments ; 
the  commanders  of  squadrons  and  battalions ;  the  captains  of 
companies — all  cooperated  with  the  troops,  and  carried  out  the 
plans  of  General  Lee,  with  a  skill  and  vigor  which  alone  could 
accomplish  such  results. 

Among  these  distinguished  soldiers,  marching  under  Lee, 
none  had  performed  more  important  services  in  the  recent  bat- 
tles than  Jackson.  When  he  appeared  upon  the  field  the  battle 
was  almost  lost,  and  the  Confederate  lines  were  on  the  point  of 
falling  back.  The  sound  of-  his  guns  changed  the  whole  face  of 
affairs,  as  by  magic ;  and  when  he  threw  his  trained  troops 
against  the  Federal  lines,  they  began  in  their  turn  to  waver. 
This  was  always  the  signal  with  Jackson  for  a  more  resolute 
attack ;  that  attack  was  made,  and  the  result  was  a  decisive  vic- 
tory, in  which  Jackson's  corps  had  borne  the  chief  part. 

He  fought  upon  this  occasion  with  the  science  of  a  trained 
soldier,  but  the  anxiety  of  earlier  days  in  the  Valley  was  spared 
him.  His  troops  no  longer  required  watching  and  careful  ma- 


244  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

nouvring  to  make  them  victorious.  The  raw  levies  had  become 
old  soldiers,  and  fought  with  a  steadiness  which  spared  their 
commander  all  solicitude.  This  was  shown  in  Jackson's  de- 
meanor on  the  field.  He  had  the  air  of  one  who  knew  upon 
what  he  relied,  and  did  not  doubt  the  result. 

Malvern  Hill  was  the  end  of  the  struggle  around  Richmond 
It  is  true  that  General  Lee  sent  Jackson  forward  on  the  next 
day  toward  Harrison's  Landing,  and  that  on  the  day  after  there 
was  a  desultory  skirmish  between  the  opposing  forces.  But  the 
roll  of  great  events  was  exhausted,  the  curtain  had  fallen  upon 
the  bloody  drama. 

Subsequent  revelations,  by  General  McClellan,  of  the  strength 
and  condition  of  his  army  at  that  time,  afford  ample  reason  for 
believing  that  an  advance  would  have  terminated  in  his  capture  ; 
but  upon  grounds  which  seemed  to  them  at  that  time  conclusive, 
the  Confederate  authorities  determined  to  retire  ;  and  on  the  8th 
of  July  the  forces  were  accordingly  withdrawn.  Jackson's 
corps  fell  into  line,  left  the  hot  pine  woods  in  which  they  had 
lain,  sweltering  in  front  of  the  enemy,  and  took  up  the  line  of 
march  for  the  neighborhood  of  Richmond. 

Jackson  had  lost  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor  589  killed, 
and  2,671  wounded.  At  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill  377  killed^ 
and  1,746  wounded. 

The  corps  had  sustained,  in  the  fullest  degree,  its  reputation, 
won  in  the  hard  combats  beyond  the  mountains,  and  had  left  its 
mark  all  along  the  road  from  Ashland,  by  Cold  Harbor  to  Mal- 
vern Hill ;  but  it  had  left,  too,  some  of  its  most  precious  bloodr 
poured  out  in  the  lowlands,  as  other  precious  blood  had  been,  in 
the  Virginia  Valley.  Many  brave  souls  slept  under  the  green 
sod  of  the  Hanover  slopes,  in  the  silent  swamps  of  the  Chicka- 
hominy,  and  beneath  the  dim  pines  of  Charles  City,  sighing  over 
their  unknown  graves.  There  may  they  rest  in  peace. 


•    THE    END   OF   THE   DEAMA. 


CHAPTER  VH. 

THE    END     OF    THE    DRAMA. 

THE  memorable  "battles  around  Richmond"  had  thus  re-- 
suited in  the  defeat  of  the  Federal  campaign,  and  the  remnant 
of  General  McClellan's  army  had  retired  for  safety  under  the- 
frowning  muzzles  of  the  gunboats  on  James  River. 

We  have  traced  in  detail  the  movements  which  led  to  this- 
result,  but  in  the  hurry  of  the  narrative  have  omitted  some 
things  which  are  necessary  to  an  intelligent  comprehension  of 
the  situation  of  the  adversaries. 

At  the  moment  when  General  Lee  struck  at  him,  General 
McClellan  was  within  cannon  shot  of  Richmond,  and  his  great 
numbers  seemed  to  render  its  capture  certain.  From  the  White 
House,  their  base  of  supply  on  York  River,  to  Seven  Pines, 
within  four  or  five  miles  of  the  city,  the  Federal  troops  were 
encamped  on  every  hill  and  in  every  valley.  The  fields  and 
forests  of  New  Kent,  Henrico,  and  Hanover,  which  had  made 
those  counties  among  the  most  attractive  in  the  State,  were  full 
of  tents ;  the  woods  were  disappearing  after  the  fences,  the 
meadows  were  traversed  by  wagon  roads,  the  old  mansions  taken 
for  hospitals  or  burned ;  and,  under  their  impromptu  arbors  of 
boughs,  the  Federal  soldiers  divided  the  proceeds  of  their  forays 
upon  the  neighboring  estates.  The  troops  seem  to  have  fully 
expected  to  take  Richmond  whenever  a  general  advance  was 
made  upon  it ;  but  General  McClellan  was  not  so  well  assured 
of  the  result.  He  seems  to  have  shrunk  from  risking  a  battle 
and  evidently  designed  to  capture  the  place  by  regular  ap- 
proaches— to  advance  step  by  step,  constructing  powerful  works 
as  he  proceeded,  until  his  heavy  guns  should  bear  directly  upon 
the  city,  and  compel  its  evacuation.  He  was  energetically  pur- 
suing this  design,  when,  on  the  27th  of  July,  he  was  compelled 


246  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

to  concentrate  his  army,  as  far  as  he  could,  behind  Powhite  Creek, 
near  Cold  Harbor,  to  protect  himself  from  destruction. 

This  battle  has  been  much  misunderstood.  It  has  been  re- 
garded by  many  persons  as  only  a  link  in  the  chain  of  events,  but 
it  was  in  reality  the  day  of  decisive  defeat  for  General  McClellan. 
The  action  at  Mechanicsville  was  comparatively  an  affair  of  the 
outpost,  and  the  Federal  commander  promptly  abandoned  his 
position  there,  and  concentrated  his  entire  available  force  for 
the  decisive  struggle  at  Cold  Harbor.  He  meant  that  to  be  the 
ground  upon  which  the  issue  should  be  decided ;  his  ability  to 
hold  the  works  behind  Powhite  Creek,  the  test  of  every  thing. 
They  were  stormed,  and  carried  with  the  bayonet,  and  General 
McClellan  had  been  defeated.  What  remained  for  him  now  was 
retreat;  and  all  the  fighting  which  followed  was  merely  the 
effort  of  a  good  soldier  to  fall  back  in  order,  and  save  the  rem- 
nant of  his  army. 

General  McClellan's  position  was  at  that  moment  extremely 
embarrassing.  As  we  have  seen,  he  was  called  upon  to  decide 
rapidly  whether  he  would  retreat  down  the  Peninsula,  thus  pre- 
serving his  stores  at  the  "White  House,  or  march  across  to  James 
River,  a  movement  the  moral  effect  of  which  would  be  much 
better  on  the  troops.  He  decided  promptly  upon  the  latter  course, 
but  successfully  masked  his  intention.  A  force  was  left  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Chickahominy,  and  General  Lee  was  thus  in 
doubt  as  to  the  intended  line  of  retreat.  When  that  force  was 
attacked  on  the  28th,  it  retired  to  the  southern  bank,  and  the 
perilous  retrograde  movement  through  the  swamps  of  Henrico 
and  Charles  City  commenced.  The  ability  displayed  by  General 
McClellan  in  this  movement  is  unquestionable.  Its  success, 
with  the  subsequent  campaign  of  the  same  commander  in  Mary- 
land, entitle  him,  all  things  considered,  to  the  palm  of  superiority 
over  all  other  generals  of  the  Federal  army.  At  every  step  the 
Confederate  advance  was  confronted  by  a  powerful  and  admira- 
bly handled  rear  guard,  supported  by  artillery  ;  and  the  skill  and 
courage  displayed  by  the  Federal  officers  and  troops,  with  the 
difficult  character  of  the  country,  effected  their  object.  At 


THE   END   OF   THE   DRAMA.  247 

White  Oak  Swamp,  the  position  chosen  by  General  McClellan 
was  so  excellent  that  Jackson  could  make  no  impression  upon  it ; 
and  at  Frayser's  Farm  the  Confederate  columns  were  held  in  check 
until  dark.  On  Malvern  Hill  a  decisive  stand  was  made,  Mc- 
Clellan massed  his  artillery,  fought  with  the  fury  of  despair,  and 
repulsed  every  assault  upon  his  shattered  ranks.  When  he 
reached  Harrison's  Landing,  as  he  did  on  the  same  night,  it  was 
to  his  skill  and  soldership  alone  that  the  Federal  authorities  owed 
the  salvation  of  the  army. 

The  Northern  forces  had  thus  escaped  utter  rout,  but  the 
results  achieved  by  General  Lee's  attack  were  very  great.  In 
mere  war  material  these  embraced  fifty  pieces  of  artillery,  many 
thousands  of  small-arms,  millions  worth  of  property,  and  thou- 
sands of  prisoners.  But  the  supreme  result  was  the  deliverance 
of  the  Confederate  capital.  Richmond  had  unquestionably  been 
in  imminent  danger  of  capture,  and  all  hearts  had  begun  to  de- 
spond, when,  in  one  afternoon,  the  Federal  power  in  front  of  the 
city  was  effectually  broken,  and  the  campaign  terminated. 

Jackson's  part  in  these  events  has  been  described,  and  he 
now  became  absorbed  in  his  favorite  project  of  invading  the 
North.  This  became  his  possessing  thought,  and  was  no  secret 
from  those  with  whom  he  conversed.  As  day  after  day  passed, 
in  the  woods  of  Charles  City,  his  impatience  became  extreme, 
and  one  night,  while  lying  down  in  his  tent  conversing  with  a 
confidential  friend,  he  suddenly  rose  from  his  couch,  struck  it 
violently  with  his  clenched  hand,  and  exclaimed  : 

"  Why  don't  we  advance  !  Now  is  the  time  for  an  advance 
into  Pennsylvania ;  McClellan  is  paralyzed,  and  the  Scipio  Afri- 
canus  policy  is  the  best ! ,  Let  the  President  only  give  me  the 
men,  and  I  will  undertake  it.  I  say  this  in  no  improper  spirit. 
I  will  go  under  any  one — under  Ewell,  or  anybody  who  will 
fight.  General  Lee,  I  believe,  would  go,  but  perhaps,  he  cannot." 
And  then  came  that  tribute  to  General  Lee  which  we  have 
already  presented  to  the  reader. 

The  views  of  Jackson  were  not  concurred  in  by  the  Con- 
federate authorities,  who,  menaced  still  by  the  force  remaining; 


248  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

with  General  McClellan,  and  by  the  Federal  army  assembling  at 
Warrenton,  seemed  to  have  considered  their  resources  too  limited 
to  risk  so  important  a  movement,  at  such  a  distance  from  the 
.capital.  The  absence,  however,  of  those  official  revelations 
which  are  the  basis  of  all  just  views  of  public  events,  renders 
:any  definite  statement  upon  this  subject  premature. 

With  two  little  incidents  which  belong  to  this  period,  we 
shall  conclude  our  sketch  of  Jackson  around  Richmond.  The 
first  exhibits  that  sternness  of  spirit  which  his  sweet  smile  and 
courteous  manner  concealed,  and  is  thus  related  by  the  person 
who  witnessed  it.  Jackson  sent  an  order  to  one  of  his  officers, 
in  the  afternoon  at  Malvern  Hill,  to  advance  across  the  open 
space  in  front  of  the  Federal  works  and  attack  them.  The 
officer  in  question  hurried  to  Jackson,  and  said  almost  rudely : 

"  Did  you  order  me  to  advance  over  that  field,  sir  ?  " 

Jackson's  eye  flashed  under  the  rim  of  his  cap,  and,  in  his 
briefest  tones,  he  said : 

"  Yes." 

"  Impossible,  sir  !  "  exclaimed  the  officer,  "  my  men  will  be 
Annihilated  !  Nothing  can  live  there  !  They  will  be  annihilated  I " 

Jackson  listened  in  silence,  but  his  face  grew  cold  and  rigid 
with  displeasure.  He  gazed  steadily  for  a  moment  at  the 
speaker,  raised  his  finger,  and  in  low  brief  tones  said : 

"  General . ,  I   always   endeavor  to   take   care  of  my 

wounded  and  to  bury  my  dead.     You  have  heard  my  order — 
obey  it ! " 

These  words  admitted  of  no  reply,  and  the  order  was  carried 
(Out.  The  officer  who  relates  the  incident  declares  that  he  has 
never  before  or  since  seen  such  an  expression  as  that  which 
burned  in  the  eye  of  Jackson  as  he  uttered  the  above  words. 
He  looked  "dangerous" — and  that  admonition  closed  the  in- 
terview. 

The  second  incident  displays  the  great  personal  popularity 
which  Jackson  had  already  secured.  On  the  morning  after  the 
Jbattle  of  Malvern  Hill  he  was  riding  on  the  left  of  his  line,  when 
he  met  Colonel  Munford  of  the  cavalry,  and  after  some  words 


GENERAL    POPE    IN    CULPEPPEfJ.  249 

apon  military  matters,  asked  him  if  he  had  managed  to  secure 
any  breakfast.  The  Colonel  informed  him  that  he  had,  and 
Jackson  said : 

"  I  should  like  to  have  some  myself.  I  wonder  if  I  can  get 
some  buttermilk  ?  " 

"  Yes,  General — come  with  me,"  was  Colonel  Munford's 
answer. 

And  they  rode  to  the  plain  mansion  in  which  an  old  lady  of  the 
humbler  class  had  furnished  Colonel  Munford  with  his  breakfast. 

"  Can  I  get  some  breakfast  for  General  Jackson,  madam  ?  " 
asked  the  officer ;  "  he  has  had  none  to-day." 

"For  whom?"  exclaimed  the  good  woman,  pausing  in  her 
work  and  looking  earnestly  at  the  speaker. 

"For  General  Jackson,"  was  the  Colonel's  reply. 

"  General  Jackson  !  That  is  not  General  Jackson  ! "  she 
again  exclaimed,  pointing  to  the  man  in  the  dingy  uniform. 

"  Yes  it  is,  madam." 

The  old  lady  gazed  at  the  General  for  a  moment  in  silence  ; 
her  face  flushed  red,  and  raising  both  hands  she  suddenly  burst 
into  tears. 

Every  thing  in  her  house  was  produced  without  delay,  includ- 
ing the  longed-for  buttermilk  ;  but  nothing,  evidently,  in  the  old 
lady's  estimation  was  good  enough  for  her  hero.*  These  things 
touched  Jackson  more  than  the  plaudits  of  victory. 


CHAPTER  VHI. 

GENERAL   POPE    IN   CULPEPPER. 

THE  disastrous  issue  of  affairs  on  the  Chickahominy  took 
place  at  a  moment  when  the  Federal  arms  had  achieved  import 
ant  successes  in  the  West.  ^  ,- 

In  that  quarter  the  Confederates  had  met  with  serious  re- 

*  These  incidents  are  related  on  the  authority  of  Colonel  T.  T.  Munford 
•of  the  cavalry. 


250  LIFE    OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

verses.  On  the  30th  of  May  General  Beauregard  had  been- 
compelled  to  fall  back  from  Corinth,  and  on  the  6th  of  June  the 
Federal  forces  entered  Memphis.  They  now  held  New  Orleans, 
Baton  Rouge,  Natchez,  and  Memphis,  on  the  Mississippi ;  and 
though  Vicksburg  still  held  out,  and  the  Federal  troops  had  to 
abandon  the  siege,  the  general  result  of  the  campaign  was  more 
than  favorable  to  their  arms.  It  was  in  the  midst  of  the  rejoic- 
ing at  these  successes  that  the  great  blow  fell  on  the  Chickahom- 
iny,  reversing  all  their  hopes  of  an  early  termination  of  the 
conflict. 

The  Federal  authorities  did  not,  however,  despair.  The 
Southern  successes  were  only  the  signal  for  still  more  gigantic 
preparations,  and  determined  efforts  to  overthrow  the  Confed- 
eracy. President  Lincoln  called  for  300,000  additional  troops  ; 
larger  bounties  were  offered  for  recruits  than  had  ever  before 
been  known  in  the  history  of  any  war ;  and  the  Federal  legisla- 
tion indicated  the  basis  upon  which  the  hostilities  were  thereafter 
to  be  carried  on.  A  bill  passed  Congress,  confiscating  the  slaves 
of  all  persons  adhering  to  the  Confederate  Government.  An- 
other act  directed  slaves  to  be  armed  and  enrolled  as  troops ;  and 
military  commanders  were  authorized  to  seize  and  make  use  of 
any  property,  real  or  personal,  belonging  to  Southern  sympa« 
thizers,  "  necessary  or  convenient  for  their  commands,"  without 
compensation  to  their  owners.  The  war  was  thus  to  be  con- 
ducted upon  the  hypothesis  that  the  Southern  States  were  not 
belligerents  according  to  the  laws  of  nations,  but  outlawed  com- 
binations beyond  the  pale  of  civilized  warfare. 

Immediate  steps  were  now  taken  to  retrieve  the  disasters  on 
the  banks  of  the  Chickahominy  ;  and,  during  the  month  of  July, 
while  General  McClellan  was  still  lying  upon  the  hot  shores  of 
the  James,  fresh  levies  were  rapidly  hurried  forward  to  Wash- 
ington. That  city  became  one  great  camp ;  the  forces  lately 
under  Generals  Banks,  McDowell,  and  Fremont,  were  concen- 
trated at  the  Capital ;  and  large  re  enforcements  having  arrived 
from  McClellan,  a  very  considerable  army  was  soon  ready  to 
take  the  field.  This  body  was  styled  the  "  Army  of  Virginia," 


GENERAL   POPE   IN   CULPEPPEE.  251 

and  was  speedily  sent  forward  in  detached  columns  to  Warren- 
ton,  Culpepper  Court-House,  and  Fredericksburg,  with  a  view 
to  unite  and  advance  upon  Gordonsville.  This  force  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  Major-General  John  Pope,  who  was  said 
to  have  declared  that  he  had  "  never  seen  any  thing  of  his  ene- 
mies but  their  backs." 

General  Pope  reached  the  headquarters  of  the  army,  on  the 
Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad,  in  a  special  car  decked  with 
streamers,  and  soon  afterward,  issued  a  general  order,  in  which 
he  said  to  the  troops  : 

"  I  desire  you  to  dismiss  from  your  minds  certain  phrases, 
which  I  am  sorry  to  find  much  in  vogue  among  you.  I  hear 
constantly  of  taking  strong  positions,  and  holding  them  ;  of  lines 
of  retreat,  and  bases  of  supplies.  Let  us  discard  such  ideas. 
The  strongest  position  which  a  soldier  should  desire  to  occupy  is 
the  one  from  which  he  can  most  easily  advance  upon  the  enemy. 
Let  us  study  the  probable  line  of  retreat  of  our  opponents,  and 
leave  our  own  to  take  care  of  itself.  Let  us  look  before  and  not 
behind.  Disaster  and  shame  lurk  in  the  rear." 

General  Pope  then  issued  what  was  styled  his  "  expatriation 
order."  This  directed  that  all  male  citizens  disloyal  to  the  United 
States  should  be  immediately  arrested,  the  oath  of  allegiance 
proffered  them,  and  if  they  took  it,  and  "  furnished  sufficient  se- 
curity for  its  observance,"  they  should  be  released.  If  they 
declined  taking  it  they  should  be  sent  beyond  the  extreme  Fed- 
eral pickets,  and  if  found  again  within  his  lines  should  be  treated 
as  spies  and  shot.  "If  any  person,"  said  this  order,  "having 
taken  the  oath  of  allegiance,  as  above  specified,  be  found  to 
have  violated  it,  he  shall  be  shot,  and  his  property  seized  and 
applied  to  the  public  use."  In  addition,  "  all  communication 
with  any  person  whatever  living  within  the  lines  of  the  enemy," 
was  prohibited  ;  and  "  any  person  concerned  in  writing,  or  in 
carrying  letters  or  messages,  will  be  considered  and  treated  as  a 
spy"  General  Steinwehr  also  issued  an  order  directing  that  the 
prominent  citizens  of  his  district  should  be  arrested  and  detained 
as  hostages  for  the  good  behavior  of  the  inhabitant?,  and  made 


252  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

to  suffer  in  their  persons  for  the  acts  of  partisans  and  "  bush- 
whackers." If  any  of  the  Federal  troops  were  "  bushwhacked," 
one  of  the  hostages  should  suffer  death. 

The  uncompromising  hostility  thus  officially  announced  tow- 
ard the  entire  population  by  General  Pope  and  bis  lieutenants, 
speedily  became  the  rule  of  proceedings  on  the  part  of  tbe  troops. 
Wholesale  depredations  were  made  upon  the  property  of  the  cit- 
izens, and  they  were  utterly  unable  to  obtain  from  the  Federal 
officers  either  indemnity  for  the  past  or  protection  for  the  future. 
We  refrain  from  entering  into  the  disagreeable  and  repulsive 
details  of  these  excesses  of  the  troops — excesses  which  induced 
a  writer  in  Blackwood's  Magazine  to  declare  that  the  war  was 
being  conducted  "in  a  way  that  cast  mankind  two  centuries 
back  toward  barbarism."  A  Federal  writer  thus  describes  the 
proceedings  of  the  troops,  and  with  his  statement  we  dismiss  the 
subject : 

"  The  Army  of  Virginia  has  undergone  a  marked  change  in 
a  very  important  particular.  The  new  usage  which  has  been  in- 
stituted in  regard  to  the  protection  of  Confederate  property,  and 
the  purpose  of  the  Government  to  subsist  the  army,  as  far  as 
practicable,  upon  the  enemy's  country,  has  produced  a  decided 
revolution  in  the  feelings  and  practices  of  the  soldiery,  and  one 
which  seems  to  me  very  much  to  be  regretted. 

"  Unless  these  innovations  are  guarded  by  far  more  stringent, 
safeguards  against  irregular  and  unauthorized  plundering,  we 
shall  let  loose  upon  the  country,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  a  torrent 
of  unbridled  and  unscrupulous  robbers.  Rapid  strides  toward 
villany  have  been  made  during  the  last  few  weeks.  Men  who 
at  home  would  have  shuddered  at  the  suggestion  of  touching 
another's  property,  now  appropriate  remorselessly  whatever 
comes  in  their  reach.  Thieving,  they  imagine,  has  now  become 
an  authorized  practice,  and,  under  the  show  of  subsisting  them- 
selves, chickens,  turkeys,  hams,  and  corn  have  become  a  lawful 
plunder,  with  little  discrimination  as  to  the  character  or  circum 
stances  of  the  original  owner. 

"  It  is  to  me  a  very  serious  and  unfortunate  state  of  facts, 


GENERAL   POPE   IN   CULPEPPER.  253 

•when  soldiers  will  rush  in  crowds  upon  the  smoke-house  of  a 
fanner,  and  each  quarrel  with  the  other  to  get  the  best  and 
greatest  share.  I  blush  when  I  state  that  on  the  march,  through 
a  section  of  country,  every  spring-house  is  broken  open,  and 
butter,  milk,  eggs,  and  cream  are  engulphed,  almost  before  the 
place  is  reached  by  the  men.  Calves  and  sheep,  and,  in  fact, 
any  thing  and  every  thing  serviceable  for  meat  or  drink,  or 
apparel,  are  not  safe  a  moment  after  the  approach  of  the  army. 
Even  things  apparently  useless  are  snatched  up,  because,  it 
would  seem,  many  men  love  to  steal. 

"  At  a  place  where  I  not  long  ago  spent  a  night,  scarcely  an 
article  to  which  the  fertility  of  a  soldier  could  suggest  the  slight- 
est use  remained  to  the  owner  upon  the  following  morning. 
There  had  been  soldiers  there,  you  might  wager.  Pans,  kettles, 
dish-cloths,  pork,  poultry,  provisions,  and  every  thing  desirable 
had  disappeared.  The  place  was  stripped,  and  without  any  pro- 
cess of  commissary  or  quartermaster.  So  it  has  been  in  innu- 
merable instances.  Many  a  family,  incapable  of  sustaining  the 
slightest  loss,  has  actually  been  deprived  of  all. 

"•  I  not  long  ago  saw  a  dozen  soldiers  rushing  headlong 
thi  ough  a  field,  each  anxious  to  get  the  first  choice  of  three  horses 
shading  themselves  quietly  under  a  tree.  The  animals  made 
their  best  time  into  the  farthest  corner  of  the  field,  with  the  men 
close  upon  them  ;  and  the  foremost  ones  caught  their  prizes  and 
bridled  them  as  if  they  had  a  perfect  immunity  in  such  things. 
A  scene  followed.  A  young  lady  came  out  and  besought  the 
soldiers  not  to  take  her  favorite  pony.  The  soldiers  were  re- 
morseless and  unyielding,  and  the  pony  is  now  in  the  army. 

"  I  know  a  case  where  a  family  were  just  seating  themselves 
to  dinner,  when  some  of  the  soldiers  being  that  way.  they  weni 
in  and  swallowed  every  thing.  That  was  not  all ;  but  whatever 
in  doors  and  out  of  doors  the  soldiers  wanted  was  readily  appro- 
priated, and  the  proprietor  of  the  place  told  me  sorrowfully  that 
they  had  ruined  him — he  never  could  now  get  out  of  debt.  I 
hardly  regretted  his  misfortune  so  much  on  his  account  as  for  the 
influence  of  this  thieving  upon  the  soldiers.  I  was  really  grati- 


254  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

fied  to  hear  his  little  boy  say,  '  Pap  says  he  wouldn't  vote  the 
secession  ticket  again  if  he  had  the  chance.'  His  patriotism  was 
evidently  drawing  too  heavily  upon  his  fortunes,  and  I  was  rejoiced 
to  find  him  in  an  inquiring  state  of  mind.  But  unless  a  check  is 
given  to  this  promiscuous  and  unauthorized  plundering,  the  dis- 
cipline and  value  of  the  army  will  be  destroyed ;  and  when  the 
enlistments  have  expired  we  shall  let  loose  a  den  of  thieves  upon 
the  country."  , 

It  is  said  that  General  Pope  subsequently  issued  an  order  de- 
claring such  proceedings  unauthorized  ;  *  but  the  Federal  forces 
had  accomplished  their  work.  The  land  was  green  when  they 
came,  but  they  left  a  desert  behind  them.  The  fences  were 
burned,  the  forests  felled,  the  farm  lands  turned  into  common, 
and  fathers  of  families  began  seriously  to  dread  that  their  chil- 
dren would  starve.  When  the  writer  of  this  page  passed  through 
Culpepper  in  August,  it  was  as  much  as  he  could  do  to  procure 
food  for  himself  and  forage  for  his  horse. 

General  Pope  advanced  through  Culpepper  toward  the  Rap- 
idan,  and  had  as  yet  encountered  no  enemy.  His  right  extended 
to  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  his  left  toward  the  confluence 
of  the  Rappahannock  and  Rapidan.  This  was  the  state  of  things* 
in  Culpepper  in  the  last  days  of  July. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CEDAR   RUN. 

WHILE  General  Pope  thus  advanced  toward  the  Rapidan, 
seriously  threatening  with  his  large  force  the  Central  Railroad  at 
Gordonsville,  General  McClellan  was  still  with  a  considerable 

*  This  was  probably  in  consequence  of  General  Order  No.  107  from  the 
United  States  War  Department,  issued  August  15th,  that  '•  no  officer  or  sol- 
dier might,  without  proper  authority,  leave  his  colors  or  rauks  to  take  private 
property,  or  to  enter  a  private  house  for  the  purpose,  undei  penalty  of  death." 


CEDAR   BUN.  255 

portion  of  his  army  at  Harrison's  Landing,  and  professed  to  de- 
sign another  advance  on  Richmond.  It  was  thus  necessary  for 
the  Confederate  authorities  to  retain  a  sufficient  number  of  troops 
at  the  capital  to  repulse  any  advance  of  the  enemy  from  James 
River.  It  was  equally  important,  however,  to  check  General  Pope ; 
and  to  that  end,  Jackson,  who  had  gone  into  camp  on  the  Me- 
chanicsville  road,  not  far  from  Richmond,  was  directed  to  pro- 
ceed toward  Gordonsville,  and  guard  that  point  against  the 
threatened  assault  upon  it.  His  own  "  Old  Division,"  and  General 
Swell's,  were  accordingly  moved  in  that  direction,  and  reached 
Gordonsville  on  the  19th  of  July.  Receiving  reliable  information 
that  the  Federal  army  in  his  front  greatly  outnumbered  his  own 
forces,  Jackson  sent  back  to  General  Lee  for  additional  troops, 
and  was  reenforced  by  General  A.  P.  Hill's  division. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  advanced  forces  of  cavalry  on  both 
sides  came  into  collision.  On  the  2d  of  August,  whilst  Colonel 
Jones,  by  direction  of  Brigadier-General  Robertson,  was  moving, 
with  the  7th  Virginia  cavalry,  to  take  charge  of  picket  posts  on 
the  Rapidan,  he  received  intelligence,  before  reaching  Orange 
Court-House,  that  the  enemy  were  in  possession  of  that  town. 
Continuing  to  advance,  Colonel  Jones  found  the  main  street  full 
of  Federal  cavalry,  and  charged  the  head  of  the  enemy's  column 
— another  portion  of  the  regiment,  under  Major  Marshall,  at- 
tacking them  in  flank.  Both  attacks  were  successful,  and  the 
enemy  were  driven  from  the  place.  But  the  Confederate  forces 
were  still  greatly  outnumbered  ;  and,  in  consequence  of  the  large 
body  of  the  enemy  in  front,  together  with  the  fire  of  their  flanking 
parties,  Jones  was  compelled  to  fall  back.  He  made  another 
stand,  however,  not  far  from  the  town,  and  the  Federal  cavalry 
retired.  In  this  brief  contest,  Colonel  Jones,  while  gallantly 
charging  at  the  head  of  his  men,  received  a  sabre  wound,  and 
Major  Marshall  was  captured. 

Such  was  the  attitude  of  the  adversaries  on  the  Rapidan  in 
the  first  days  of  August :  Jackson  at  Gordonsville,  General 
Pope  at  Culpepper  Court-House,  and  the  cavalry  of  the  two 
Armies  in  face  of  each  other  at  Orange. 


256  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

General  Pope  was  waiting  to  be  reenforced  by  General  Burn* 
side,  and  the  problem  with  the  Confederate  authorities  wasr 
where  would  the  Federal  flotilla,  under  the  latter  commander, 
make  an  attack  ?  It  lay  in  Hampton  Roads,  and  was  either  in- 
tended for  the  Rappahannock  or  the  James ;  to  operate  with 
General  Pope,  or  with  General  McClellan  in  another  attack  upon 
Richmond.  The  question  was  soon  decided  by  a  Confederate 
prisoner — Colonel  John  S.  Mosby,  the  well-known  partisan — 
who  left  Old  Point  to  come  up  the  river  just  as  General  Burnside 
was  embarking  infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery  at  Fortress  Mon- 
roe. From  a  sure  source  he  had  obtained  information  that  these 
troops  were  intended  for  the  Rappahannock  ;  and  as  soon  as  the 
flag-of-truce  boat  stopped  below  Richmond,  Colonel  Mosby  re- 
paired without  delay  to  General  Lee's  headquarters  and  gave  him 
the  intelligence.  General  Stuart,  then  on  an  expedition  toward 
the  Rappahannock,  had  received  the  same  information,  but  it 
could  not  be  transmitted  so  quickly.  It  was  despatched  b$  relays 
of  couriers  to  Jackson  ;  and  the  receipt  of  this  intelligence  prob- 
ably determined  him  to  advance  and  attack  General  Pope  before 
he  was  reenforced. 

This  design  was  carried  into  execution  with  that  vigor  and 
rapidity  which  characterized  all  the  movements  of  Jackson.  On 
the  7th  of  August  he  moved  from  Gordonsville,  with  his  entire 
force,  in  the  direction  of  Barnett's  ford,  on  the  Rapidan,  a  few 
miles  above  the  point  where  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad 
crosses  the  river ;  and  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  Robertson's 
cavalry,  which  had  advanced  beyond  the  Rapidan,  encountered 
the  Federal  cavalry  on  the  road  from  Barnett's  ford  to  Culpep- 
per  Court-House.  They  were  attacked,  driven  back,  and  pur- 
sued by  General  Robertson — the  army  continuing  to  advance  on 
the  track  of  the  cavalry,  with  Ewell's  division  in  front.  The  day 
was  spent  in  skirmishing  with  the  Federal  cavalry,  and  such  waa 
the  activity  and  enterprise  which  they  displayed  that  Jackson- 
was  obliged  to  send  back  an  entire  brigade  to  guard  his  trains- 
Lawton's  was  selected,  and  thus  was  not  engaged  in  the  battle. 

Jackson  continued  steadily  to  advance,  bent  on  forcing  Geni 


CEDAR   RUN.  257 

eral  Pope  to  fight  before  his  reinforcements  arrived,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, before  his  troops,  scattered  over  a  large  extent  of  country, 
could  be  concentrated  to  resist  the  sharp  iron  wedge  with  which 
the  Confederate  commander  was  about  to  pierce  his  adversary's 
centre.  On  the  next  day — August  the  9th — Jackson  had  reached 
a  point  about  eight  miles  from  Culpepper  Court-House,  and  here 
he  came  upon  the  enemy. 

The  force  in  his  front  consisted,  according  to  General  Pope's 
official  report,  of  Banks'  and  Sigel's  corps,  and  a  division  from 
that  of  McDowell,  amounting  in  all  to  32,000  troops.  Jackson 
had  two  divisions,  and  a  portion  of  a  third. 

The  enemy  were  posted  in  force — infantry,  cavalry,  and  artil- 
lery— on  a  crest  of  hills  near  the  Culpepper  road,  a  short  dis- 
tance west  and  north  of  Slaughter's  Mountain.  In  front,  the 
country  was  open  and  undulating — a  wheat-field  and  corn-field, 
in  which  the  shocks  were  still  standing  in  the  August  sunshine, 
extending  between  the  opposing  lines  to  the  wooded  crest,  on 
which  the  Federal  batteries  were  in  position,  ready  to  open 
when  the  Confederates  advanced.  A  ridge  on  the  right  was 
occupied  by  a  heavy  body  of  Federal  cavalry  ;  and  the  engage- 
ment opened  in  this  part  of  the  field. 

A  battery,  under  Lieutenant  Terry,  was  sent  forward  oppo- 
site the  position  of  the  Federal  cavalry,  and  opened  upon  them 
with  a  vigor  which  soon  drove  them  from  the  hill.  As  the  cav- 
alry retired,  a  Federal  battery  beyond  the  crest  of  the  hill  en- 
gaged Lieutenant  Terry ;  and  his  fire  having  thus  been  diverted, 
the  Federal  cavalry  returned,  and  again  took  position  on  the 
ridge. 

Dispositions  were  now  made  to  commence  the  action  ir 
earnest.  Jackson's  division  had  not  yet  reached  the  field,  but 
Ewell  was  put  in  motion  to  secure  a  position  which  would  enable 
the  whole  Confederate  force  to  attack  with  advantage.  The 
command  of  Ewell  was  divided.  Early's  brigade  was  ordered 
to  advance  along  the  Culpepper  road,  and  General  Ewell,  with 
his  two  remaining  brigades — Trimble's  and  Hays',  Colonel  Ferno 
commanding  the  latter — rto  diverge  to  the  right,  and  passing 
17 


258  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

along  the  slope  of  Slaughter's  Mountain,  gain  a  position  from 
which  his  artillery  would  command  the  ground  occupied  by  the 
enemy. 

These  movements  were  made  without  delay.  Early,  formed 
in  line  of  hattle,  moved  into  the  open  field,  and  pushing  forward 
to  the  right  of  the  road  drove  the  Federal  cavalry  before  him  to 
the  crest  of  a  hill  which  overlooked  the  entire  space  in  his  front. 
As  Early  mounted  this  hill,  the  Federal  batteries  opened  upon 
him  furiously  ;  heavy  bodies  of  cavalry  appeared  in  the  wheat- 
field  on  his  left ;  and  so  hot  was  the  artillery  fire  that  he  with- 
drew his  troops  for  protection  under  the  crest  of  the  eminence. 
His  own  artillery  was  now  hurried  forward  and  posted  on  his 
right,  near  a  clump  of  cedar  trees,  and  four  pieces,  under  Cap- 
tains Brown  and  Dement,  opened  a  rapid  fire  upon  the  Federal 
batteries  opposed  to  them. 

At  this  moment  Jackson's  old  division,  commanded  by  Brig- 
adier-General Charles  Winder,  arrived  upon  the  field,  and  was 
disposed  in  order  of  battle.  Campbell's  brigade,  commanded  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Garnett,  was  placed  on  the  left,  in  a  wood 
near  the  wheat-field ;  the  batteries  of  Poague,  Carpenter,  and 
Caskie,  under  Major  Andrews,  took  position  parallel  to  the  road, 
with  Taliaferro's  brigade  as  a  support ;  and  Winder's  ("  Stone- 
wall") brigade,  Colonel  Ronald  commanding,  was  held  in  re- 
serve. At  the  moment  when  the  troops  moved  to  their  positions 
one  of  the  saddest  events  of  the  day  took  place.  General  Winder 
was  proceeding  to  direct  the  fire  of  the  batteries,  with  that  skill 
and  coolness  which  had  attracted  the  attention  of  all  in  so  many 
bloody  encounters,  when  a  shell  exploded  in  front  of  him,  and  a 
fragment  mortally  wounded  him. 

"  It  is  difficult,"  says  Jackson,  "  in  the  proper  reserve  of  an 
official  report,  to  do  justice  to  the  merits  of  this  accomplished 
officer.  Urged  by  the  Medical  Director  to  take  no  part  in  the 
movements  of  the  day,  because  of  the  then  enfeebled  state  of  his 
health,  his  ardent  patriotism  and  military  pride  could  bear  no 
such  restraint.  Richly  endowed  with  those  qualities  of  mind 
and  person  which  fit  an  officer  for  command,  and  which  attract 


CEDAR   BUN.  259 

the  admiration  and  excite  the  enthusiasm  of  troops,  he  was  rap- 
idly rising  to  the  front  rank  of  his  profession.  His  loss  has  been 
severely  felt." 

The  command  of  Jackson's  division  now  devolved  on  Briga- 
dier-General W.  B.  Taliaferro,  whose  own  brigade  was  com- 
manded during  the  remainder  of  the  action  by  Colonel  A.  G. 
Taliaferro.  • 

Meanwhile,  Ewell  moving  to  the  right,  with  his  two  bri- 
gades, had  reached  an  elevated  position  on  the  northwestern 
shoulder  of  Slaughter's  Mountain.  Here,  at  a  point  about  two 
hundred  feet  above  the  valley,  he  posted  Latimer's  battery,  and 
opened  a  rapid  and  destructive  fire  upon  the  enemy.  This  was 
echoed  by  the  guns  of  Andrews  on  the  left ;  and  for  two  hours 
an  incessant  cannonade  was  kept  up  between  the  opposing  bat- 
teries. In  this  artillery  engagement  the  enemy  were  seriously 
damaged  ;  but  the  Confederate  loss  was  also  considerable.  Ma- 
jor Andrews,  among  others,  was  severely  wounded  and  borne 
from  the  field. 

Jackson  had  not  attempted  an  advance  upon  the  Federal 
lines.  He  was  waiting  for  General  A.  P.  Hill,  who  had  not  yet 
come  up.  Encouraged  by  this  apparent  timidity  and  disinclina- 
tion to  attack,  the  Federal  commander,  about  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  threw  forward  a  dense  line  of  skirmishers  in  the 
corn-field  which  has  been  mentioned,  and  these  were  followed  by 
an  advance  of  his  infantry,  up  to  this  moment  concealed  in  the 
woods  behind  his  batteries.  As  this  heavy  column  advanced  on 
the  left,  another  body  debouched  into  view  from  a  small  valley 
hidden  by  an  undulation  of  the  ground  on  Early's  right.  This 
latter  force  charged  straight  upon  Early's  batteries,  and  he  was 
at  once  engaged  in  a  hot  encounter,  which  gradually  extended 
from  his  right  to  his  left.  At  this  period  of  the  action  Hill's 
division  reached  the  field,  and  Jackson  sent  forward  Thomas' 
brigade  to  Early's  support,  which  arrived  in  time  to  strengthen 
his  small  line,  and  render  most  valuable  assistance. 

The  attack  on  his  right,  however,  did  not  deceive  Jackson. 
The  main  body  of  the  enemy  was  still  massed  in  front  of  hia 


260  LITE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

centre  and  left,  and  the  anticipated  attempt  to  turn  that  flauk 
was  speedily  made.  Under  cover  of  the  attack  upon  Early,  a 
strong  column  moved  at  a  double-quick  from  the  wood,  through 
the  corn  and  wheat-field,  swept  forward  over  every  obstacle, 
and  turning  the  Confederate  left  flank,  poured  a  hot  and  deadly 
fire  into  Jackson's  rear.  So  sudden  and  determined  was  this 
assault,  that  the  troops  were  almost  surrounded  before  they 
knew  it ;  and  nothing  remained  for  them  but  to  fall  back  to  a 
new  position.  The  enemy  gave  them  no  time  to  reflect.  They 
rushed  forward  with  deafening  yells,  pouring  a  terrific  fire  into 
the  wavering  lines,  and  the  day  seemed  lost.  In  vain  did  the 
Confederate  officers  attempt  to  hold  the  men  steady.  Captain 
B.  W.  Leigh,  commanding  the  1st  Virginia  battalion,  took  the 
colors  of  his  battalion  and  rode  in  front,  directly  down  the  road, 
exposed  to  a  concentrated  fire  ;  and  his  brother  officers  exposed 
themselves  with  equal  gallantry.  But  these  efforts  were  use- 
less. The  left  of  Taliaferro's  brigade  was  turned,  and  fell  back  ; 
this  exposed  Early,  and  his  left  also  retired  in  confusion,  though 
the  remainder  of  his  line  maintained  its  ground. 

The  fate  of  the  day,  in  that  portion  of  the  field  at  least,, 
seemed  now  decided.  The  infantry  had  been  flanked  and  driven 
back  ;  the  artillery,  finding  itself  in  imminent  danger  of  capture, 
was  rushed  from  the  position  which  it  had  occupied,  toward  the 
rear,  and  as  it  disappeared  the  enemy  redoubled  their  volleys, 
pressing  the  retreating  Confederates  with  all  the  vigor  of  antici- 
pated triumph. 

At  this  moment  of  disaster  and  impending  ruin  Jackson  ap- 
peared, amid  the  clouds  of  smoke,  and  his  voice  was  heard  rising 
above  the  uproar  and  the  thunder  of  the  guns.  The  man,  ordi- 
narily so  cool,  silent,  and  deliberate,  was  now  mastered  by  the 
genius  of  battle.  In  feature,  voice,  and  bearing,  burned  the 
gaudium  certaminis — the  resolve  to  conquer  or  die.  Galloping 
to  the  front,  amid  the  heavy  fire  directed  upon  his  disordered 
Lines,  now  rapidly  giving  way — with  his  eyes  flashing,  his  face 
flushed,  his  voice  rising  and  ringing  like  a  clarion  on  every  ear, 
oe  rallied  the  confused  troops  and  brought  them  into  line.  At 


CEDAR   RUN.  261 

the  same  moment  the  old  Stonewall  Brigade  and  Branch's  bri- 
gade advanced  at  a  double-quick,  and  shouting,  "  Stonewall  Jack- 
son !  Stonewall  Jackson ! "  the  men  poured  a  galling  fire  into 
the  Federal  lines.  The  presence  of  Jackson,  leading  them  in 
person,  seemed  to  produce  an  indescribable  influence  on  the 
troops,  and  as  he  rode  to  and  fro,  amid  the  smoke,  encouraging 
the  men,  they  greeted  him  with  resounding  cheers.  This  was 
one  of  the  few  occasions  when  he  is  reported  to  have  been  mas- 
tered by  excitement.  He  had  forgotten  apparently  that  he  com- 
manded the  whole  field,  and  imagined  himself  a  simple  colonel 
leading  his  regiment.  Everywhere,  in  the  thickest  of  the  fire, 
his  form  was  seen  and  his  voice  heard,  and  his  exertions  to  rally 
the  men  were  crowned  with  success.  The  Federal  advance  was 
checked,  the  repulsed  troops  re-formed,  and  led  once  more  into 
action,  and  with  Jackson  in  front  the  troops  swept  forward  and 
reestablished  their  lines  upon  the  ground  from  which  they  had 
been  driven. 

Those  who  saw  Jackson  when  he  thus  galloped  to  the  front, 
and  thus  rallied  his  men  in  the  very  jaws  of  destruction,  declare 
that  he  resembled  the  genius  of  battle  incarnate. 

The  advance  of  the  Federal  forces  was  thus  checked.  They 
were  forced  to  retire  still  more  rapidly,  and  the  Stonewall  Bri- 
gade closed  in  on  their  right,  and  drove  them  back  with  terrible 
slaughter  through  the  woods.*  This  brigade  and  that  of  Branch 
maintained  their  position  in  spite  of  vigorous  attempts  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy  to  dislodge  them,  and  were  at  length  reen- 
forced  by  the  brigades  of  Archer  and  Fender.  These  were  hur- 
ried forward  to  the  threatened  point,  the  lines  were  re-formed, 
and  a  general  charge  was  made  all  along  the  Confederate  front. 
This  charge  swept  every  thing  before  it.  The  enemy  were 
driven  across  the  field,  into  the  opposite  woods. 

To  retrieve  this  disaster  they  had  recourse  to  their  cavalry. 
As  Jackson's  lines  swept  forward,  the  men  heard  the  tramp  of 
horsemen,  and  all  at  once  a  column  of  Federal  cavalry  made  an 

*  Jackson's  report. 


262  LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

impetuous  charge.  At  the  next  moment  it  retired  in  disordei 
before  the  determined  volleys  poured  into  it.  Taliaferro  had 
met  it  in  front  and  Branch  assailed  it  in  flank.  From  this  com- 
bined attack  it  recoiled  and  hastily  retreated  from  the  field. 

On  the  right  Ewell  had  been  forced  to  remain  inactive.  The 
incessant  fire  of  the  Confederate  batteries  in  the  valley,  sweep- 
ing the  only  approaches  to  the  Federal  left,  had  prevented  him 
from  advancing.  This  difficulty  now  no  longer  existed,  and  he 
promptly  threw  forward  his  column.  His  front  was  covered 
by  skirmishers  from  the  15th  Alabama,  which  had  performed 
a  similar  duty  with  so  much  gallantry  at  Cross  Keys,  and  the 
brigades  advanced  in  echelon  of  regiments,  Trimble  in  advance, 
under  a  furious  fire  of  artillery,  with  which  the  Federal  guns 
endeavored  to  check  their  progress.  As  Ewell  advanced  against 
the  Federal  left,  the  confusion  into  which  their  right  had  been 
thrown  by  the  obstinate  and  determined  attack  of  Jackson  in 
person,  was  communicated  to  their  entire  line.  They  wavered  ; 
and  thus  repulsed  from  the  Confederate  left  and  centre,  and  now 
pressed  steadily  by  the  right  centre  and  left,  they  fell  back  at 
every  point,  broke  in  confusion,  and  leaving  their  dead  and 
wounded  on  the  field,  retreated  to  the  shelter  of  the  woods,  into 
which  they  were  pursued. 

The  bloody  contest  had  thus  terminated  in  the  complete  re- 
pulse of  the  Federal  forces.  Jackson  had  captured  400  prison- 
ers, among  them  a  brigadier-general,  5,302  small-arms,  one 
Napoleon  gun  and  caisson,  with  two  other  caissons  and  a  limber, 
and  three  stands  of  colors.  His  loss  was  223  killed,  and  1,060 
wounded.  The  Federal  loss  was  not  known.  Among  the  Con- 
federate officers  who  fell,  the  fate  of  none  excited  more  sympathy 
than  that  of  General  Charles  Winder  and  C'.lonel  Richard  H. 
Cunningham.  They  were  both  in  feeble  health,  and  had  been 
strenuously  advised  by  their  physicians  not  to  take  part  in  the 
action,  but  the  sound  of  the  guns  was  irresistible.  They  took 
command  of  their  men,  and  fell  in  the  action. 

Such  was  the  battle  of  Cedar  Run.  It  completely  checked 
General  Pope's  advance,  and  will  take  its  place  among  Jack- 


JACKSON   PURSUES.  263 

son's  most  important  successes.  The  Federal  force  opposed  to 
him  was  undoubtedly  much  larger  than  his  own,  and  we  have 
seen  that  at  one  period  of  the  battle  the  Confederate  line  was  in 
imminent  danger  of  a  complete  repulse.  That  repulse,  however, 
had  been  prevented  by  the  timely  arrival  of  Jackson,  who,  by  a 
reckless  exposure  of  his  person,  rallied  the  troops,  and  led  them 
again  in  the  charge  which  drove  back  the  enemy. 

As  night  descended  upon  the  battle-field,  a  fall  moon  rose* 
pouring  upon  the  scene  of  carnage  its  melancholy  radiance. 
The  pallid  beams  fell  on  the  upturned  faces  of  the  dead,  the 
forms  of  the  wounded,  and  upon  countenances  distorted  in  the 
last  agony.  Jackson  had  added  another  to  the  roll  of  his  vie* 
tories,  and  the  weary  troops  who  had  won  the  day  with  so 
much  difficulty  lay  down  to  sleep,  the  red  battle-flags  fluttering 
above  them  in  the  dim  moonlight. 


CHAPTER  X. 

JACKSON  PURSUES. 

THUS  commenced  that  important  movement  of  the  Confeder- 
ate forces  northward,  which  drove  the  enemy  from  Virginia,  and 
obliged  him,  finally,  to  concentrate  his  entire  available  strength, 
in  Maryland,  for  the  defence  of  his  own  soil. 

General  Pope  had  commenced  his  campaign  with  an  appai 
ent  conviction  that  nothing  could  resist  his  triumphal  progress, 
but  his  imposing  advance  had  been  entirely  checked,  and  he  was 
now  rapidly  retreating  to  that  "  rear,"  where,  to  use  his  own 
words,  "  lurked  disaster  and  shame."  The  hand  which  had 
thus  heavily  struck  him  was  that  of  the  ubiquitous  leader  of  the 
Valley.  Two  months  before,  Jackson  had  defeated  Generals. 
Shields  and  Fremont,  at  Port  Republic;  within  three  weeks 
thereafter,  his  troops  had  suddenly  appeared  near  Richmond,  and 
tlirowing  themselves  upon  General  McClellan  had  decided  u^ 


264:  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

fortunes  of  the  day  at  Cold  Harbor.  Now  the  same  men  undei 
their  active  and  indefatigable  commander  had  emerged  from  the 
woods  of  Culpepper,  in  front  of  General  Pope,  and  checked  his 
advance.  The  presence  of  Jackson  at  this  point  had  greatly 
astonished  the  Federal  forces.  But  a  short  time  before  the  bat- 
tle, he  was  supposed  to  be  rapidly  advancing  down  the  Valley 
upon  Winchester.  The  Federal  camps  there  -had  been  thrown 
into  a  tumult  by  this  intelligence,  the  drums  beat  to  arms,  and 
the  Federal  soldiers,  we  are  informed  by  one  of  their  own  writ- 
ers, reminded  each  other  of  the  blunt  words  of  Jackson,  when 
he  had  been  compelled  to  retire  from  the  town  in  May,  that  he 
would  "  return  again  shortly,  and  as  certainly  as  now."  When 
the  troops  there  were  thus  beating  the.  long  roll  in  expectation 
of  his  coming,  he  was  near  Gordousville  ;  and  before  their  appre- 
hensions had  subsided,  he  had  crossed  the  Rapidan,  and  driven 
back  General  Pope.  There  was  some  ground  for  the  statement, 
that  the  enemy  began  to  experience  toward  Jackson- the  senti- 
ment of  the  Scottish  mothers  of  the  middle  ages,  when  they 
quieted  their  crying  children  with  the  threat,  "  Hush  !  or  the 
Black  Douglas  will  get  you  !  " 

General  Pope  evidently  anticipated  a  different  result  from 
the  engagement  at  Cedar  Run.  When  the  firing  commenced  he 
was  in  rear  of  Culpepper  Court  House,  and  he  announced  the 
fact  to  his  Goternment  by  telegraph,  adding :  "  I  go  to  the  front 
to  see."  He  is  said,  however,  not  to  have  reached  the  scene  of 
action,  or  taken  any  part  in  the  engagement. 

The  battle  of  Cedar  Run  was  disputed  obstinately,  and  con- 
tinued until  night.  The  Confederate  troops  were  much  ex- 
hausted by  their  march,  and  the  hard  fighting  combined,  and 
the  hours  of  darkness  were  not  propitious  for  an  advance ;  but 
Jackson  was  so  anxious  to  follow  up  his  success  and  reach  the 
Federal  stronghold  at  Culpepper  Court-House  before  morning, 
that  he  determined  to  pursue  without  delay.  An  advance  was 
accordingly  ordered,  with  Hill's  division  in  front,  and  after  pro- 
ceeding cautiously  for  a  mile  and  a  half  the  troops  came  upon 
the  Federal  forces.  Jackson  sent  forward  Pegram's  battery, 


JACKSON   PURSUES.  265 

supported  by  Field's  brigade,  with  directions  to  feel  the  Federal 
position  with  artillery ;  and  the  battery  suddenly  opened,  throw- 
ing the  Federal  forces  into  great  confusion.  They  rapidly  ran 
three  or  four  batteries  into  position,  and  replied  with  a  heavy 
fire.  A  cannonade  then  commenced,  and  continued  for  some 
time,  when  the  Federal  fire  having  become  very  severe,  Pegram 
was  ordered  to  withdraw  his  guns.  Colonel  Jones,  of  the  cav- 
alry, having  made  a  reconnoissance  in  front  and  toward  the 
right  of  the  Confederate  lines,  and  ascertained  that  Federal 
reinforcements  had  arrived,  Jackson  considered  it  imprudent  to 
continue  the  forward  movement  in  the  darkness,  and  ordered  a 
halt  for  the  night.  This  terminated  the  fighting  for  that  day. 

A  gentleman  serving  on  Jackson's  staff  at  this  time  gives 
the  following  glimpse  of  him  after  the  action.  It  may  interest 
those  readers  who  are  fond  of  personal  and  familiar  details. 
On  the  night  of  the  battle,  Jackson  was  excessively  fatigued  and 
terribly  hungry.  His  headquarter  wagons  rarely  kept  up,  and 
to  find  them  was  always  a  sore  labor  with  him.  It  frequently 
happened,  indeed,  that  from  simple  want  of  food  he  would  stop 
at  some  camp-fire,  share  the  rations  of  the  men,  and  after  a 
familiar  talk,  go  on  his  way.  On  this  night  he  sought  in  vain 
for  his  wagons,  and  rode  about  from  camp  to  camp  until  he  was 
wearied  out.  Passing  near  the  bivouac  of  the  Stonewall 
Brigade,  they  recognized  his  figure  by  the  moonlight ;  and  start- 
ing to  their  feet,  the  men  greeted  him  with  enthusiastic  cheers. 
From  this  he  soon  escaped,  and  returning  to  the  subject  of  ra- 
tions, declared  that  if  he  only  had  some  milk,  of  which  he  was 
very  fond,  he  would  be  happy.  None  could  be  procured,  the 
wagons  were  not  found,  and  worn  out  with  fatigue,  the  General 
wrapped  himself  in  his  old  cloak,  stretched  himself  flat  on  his 
breast  under  a  tree,  and  instantly  fell  asleep. 

On  the  following  morning  it  began  to  rain,  and  suspecting 
that  the  enemy  had  been  heavily  reenforced  during  the  night 
Jackson  determined  not  to  undertake  a  further  advance.  He 
accordingly  gave  directions  for  his  wounded  to  be  sent  to  the 
rear,  the  dead  to  be  buried,  and  the  arms  abandoned  by  the 


266  LITE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

enemy  in  their  flight  to  be  collected  frorn  the  battle-field.  la 
the  course  of  the  morning  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  arrived,  and, 
at  Jackson's  request,  took  command  of  the  cavalry,  and  made  a 
reconnoissance.  The  result  of  this,  and  information  from  other 
sources,  convinced  Jackson  that  the  enemy  had  been  strongly 
reenforced.  He  therefore  determined  not  to  hazard  another 
battle  in  his  weakened  condition,  and  after .  remaining  long 
enough  to  make  all  his  preparations,  retire.  The  Federal  com- 
mander seemed  in  no  haste  to  renew  the  conflict ;  and  on  the 
llth — nearly  two  days  after  the  battle — sent  a  flag  of  truce,  re- 
questing permission  until  two  o'clock  to  bury  such  of  his  dead 
as  the  Confederates  had  not  interred.  This  was  granted,  and 
the  time  afterwards  extended,  at  General  Pope's  request,  to 
five  P.  M. 

The  Confederate  forces  remained  in  position  ready  to  repulse 
any  attack  until  night,  when  Jackson  fell  back  toward  the  Rap- 
idan.  He  recrossed  that  river,  and  on  the  14th  of  August — "  to 
render  thanks  to  God  for  the  victory  at  Cedar  Run,  and  other 
past  victories,  and  to  implore  His  continual  favor  in  the  future — 
Divine  service  was  held  in  the  army."  On  the  plains  of  Orange, 
as  amid  the  blue  ranges  of  the  mountains  after  McDowell,  the 
men  bent  their  bronzed  faces  in  prayer  to  the  Giver  of  Victory. 

On  the  llth  of  August,  while  in  front  of  the  enemy,  some 
one  said  :  "  General,  you  have  sent  no  despatch  announcing  your 
victory." 

Jackson  at  once  took  a  pencil,  and  wrote  on  his  knee  some 
lines  which  he  handed  to  the  speaker,  with  the  question : 

"How  will  that  do?" 

"  Well,  General,"  was  the  reply,  "  it  is  pretty  much  a 
repetition  of  your  other  despatches  ;  but  this  battle  is  a  repeti- 
tion of  the  others  too,  and  I  suppose  it  will  do." 

The  despatch  was  as  follows  : 

HEADQUARTERS  VALLEY  DISTRICT,  August  llth — 6:15  A.  M. 
COLONEL  :  On  the  evening  of  the  9th  instant  God  blessed  our  arms  with 
another  victory.     The  battle  was  near  Cedar  Run,  about  six  miles  from  Cut 
pepper  Court-House.     The  enemy,  according  to  statements  of  prisoners,  con* 


LEE   ADVANCES   FROM   THE   RAP1DAN.  267 

sisted  of  Banks',  McDowell's,  and  Sigel's  commands.  We  have  over  four 
hundred  prisoners,  including  Brigadier-General  Prince.  Whilst  our  list  of 
killed  is  less  than  that  of  the  enemy,  jet  we  have  to  mourn  the  loss  of  some 
of  our  best  officers  and  men.  Brigadier-General  Charles  S.  Winder  was 
mortally  wounded  whilst  ably  discharging  his  duty  at  the  head  of  his  com- 
mand, which  was  the  advance  of  the  left  wing  of  the  army.  We  have  col- 
lected about  1,500  small-arms  and  other  ordnance  stores. 
I  am,  Colonel,'  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  J.  JACKSON,  Maj.-Gen.  Commanding. 
Colonel  R.  H.  CHILTON,  A.  A.  G. 


General  Pope's  was  in  these  words : 

HEADQUARTE 
CEDAR  MOUNTAIN,  August  12tA — 7:30  A.  x 


HEADQUARTERS  ARMT  OF  VIRGINIA,       ) 

.» 


To  Major-General  HALLECK  : 

The  enemy  has  retreated  under  cover  of  the  night. 

His  rear  is  now  crossing  the  Rapidan  toward  Orange  Court-House. 

Our  cavalry  and  artillery  are  in  pursuit. 

JOHN  POPE,  Major-General,  &c. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

LEE  ADVANCES    FROM   THE    RAPIDAN. 

JACKSON  thus  retired  before  the  enemy  toward  Orange  Court- 
House,  and  the  Federal  cavalry  contented  themselves  with  hover- 
ing on  his  rear  and  observing  his  march.  The  significance  of 
his  retrograde  movement  was  doubtless  well  understood,  and  was 
justly  regarded  as  the  drawing  back  of  the  arm  about  to  strike 
a  heavier  blow.  ;''-• 

The  result  of  the  battle  of  Cedar  Run  seems  to  have  con- 
vinced the  Federal  authorities  that  to  make  any  headway  in  the 
new  field  of  operations  on  the  Rappahannock,  it  would  be  neces- 
sary to  concentrate  in  that  region  all  the  troops  operating  in 
Virginia.  A  brief  period  only  had  therefore  elapsed  before  a 
fleet  of  transports  appeared  in  James  River,  proceeded  to  Harri- 
son's Landing,  and  took  on  board  the  entire  remnant  of  General 


268  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

McClellan's  army,  which  had  remained  there  under  protection 
of  the  gunboats  since  the  defeat  on  the  Chickahorainy.  The 
plan  of  the  Federal  authorities  was  to  unite  General  McClellan's* 
forces  with  those  of  General  Pope ;  to  hurry  forward  from 
Fredericksburg  the  troops  under  General  Burnside,  and,  forming 
one  great  army  of  these  three  distinct  bodies,  concentrate  them 
between  the  Rappahannock  and  the  Rapidan,  with  a  view  to 
penetrate  the  heart  of  Virginia,  cut  the  communications  of  the 
Confederate  capital,  and  either  drive  the  Government  from  the 
State,  or  reduce  it  to  submission. 

This  design  was  energetically  undertaken,  and  the  Confed- 
erates were  promptly  called  on  to  decide  whether  they  would 
stand  on  the  defensive,  for  the  protection  of  Richmond  against 
this  new  attack,  or  advance  upon  the  enemy,  and  "  carry  the 
war  into  Africa." 

The  latter  determination  was  speedily  arrived  at ;  offensive 
operations  were  decided  upon  ;  and  no  sooner  had  General  Lee 
satisfied  himself  that  General  McClellan  was  evacuating  his  po- 
sition on  James  River,  than  he  hastened  to  put  his  troops  in 
motion  to  attack  General  Pope  before  the  expected  reeuforce- 
ments  reached  him. 

The  Confederate  forces  were  accordingly  concentrated  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Gordonsville  ;  and  on  the  15th  of  August  Jack- 
son advanced,  passed  Orange  Court-House,  and  camped  on  the 
same  evening  near  Mount  Pisgah  Church.  The  force  under  his 
command  at  this  time  consisted  of 

Ewell's  Division — embracing  the  brigades  of  Lawton,  Early, 
Trimble,  and  Hays  (Colonel  Ferno  commanding  the  latter)  ;  with 
the.  batteries  of  Brown,  Dement,  Latimer,  Balthus,  and  D'Aquiu. 

A.  P.  Hill's  Division — embracing  the  brigades  of  Branch 
Gregg,  Field,  Pender,  Archer,  and  Thomas  ;  with  the  batteries 
of  Braxton,  Latham,  Crenshaw,  Mclntosh,  Davidson,  and 
Pegram. 

Jackson's  (old)  Division,  Brigadier-General  W.  B.  Talia- 
ferro  commanding — embracing  the  brigades  of  Winder  (Colonel 
Baylor),  Campbell  (Major  Seddon),  Taliaferro  (Colonel  A.  G. 


LEE    ADVANCES    FROM   THE   KAPIDAN.  26? 

Taliaferro),  and  Starke ;  with  the  batteries  of  Brockenbrough, 
Wooding,  Poague,  Carpenter,  Caskie,  and  Raines. 

The  Old  Division  was  thus  commanded  by  a  brigadier-gen- 
eral, and  its  brigades  by  colonels  and  majors  —  a  significant 
commentary  upon  the  gallantry  of  its  officers,  who  had  been  ter- 
ribly thinned  out  in  the  fierce  encounters  through  which  it  had 
passed. 

"  Major-General  Stuart,"  says  Jackson,  "  with  his  cavalry 
cooperated  during  the  expedition,  and  I  shall  more  than  once 
have  to  acknowledge  my  obligations  for  the  valuable  and  efficient 
aid  which  he  rendered." 

Jackson  remained  at  Mount  Pisgah  until  the  20th,  General 
Longstreet  not  having  completed  his  preparations  to  advance ; 
but  all  being  at  last  ready,  the  army  moved  across  the  Rapidan 
on  that  day,  and 'the  campaign  began.  General  Lee  appears  to 
have  designed  an  attack  on  General  Pope's  left  flank  and  rear, 
with  a  view  to  cut  off*  his  retreat  to  the  Rappahannock  by  the 
line  of  the  railroad,  when  the  whole  Federal  army  would  either 
be  forced  to  fight  at  a  disadvantage,  or  surrender  themselves 
prisoners  of  war.  With  this  end  in  view,  Longstreet  moved  by 
way  of  Raccoon  ford,  and  Jackson  by  way  of  Somerville  ford, 
on  the  Rapidan.  Once  beyond  the  river,  Jackson  pushed  on 
without  delay,  and  on  the  same  night  reached  Stevensburg,  a 
little  village  on  the  main  road  from  Culpepper  CourlxHouse  to 
Fredericksburg,  and  almost  opposite  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy. 

It  may  interest  some  of  our  readers  to  have  a  glimpse  of  the 
Southern  troops  upon  the  marcii.  History  deals  in  generalities  ; 
but  the  actual  picture,  however  homely,  is  more  interesting,  if  not 
as  valuable,  as  the  "  official  statement."  From  the  journal  of  an 
eye-witness  we  extract  the  following  paragraphs  relating  to  the 
movements  of  the  troops  : 

"  August  20. — Army  crossed  the  Rapidan,  the  water  thigh- 
deep.  Scene  exciting  and  amusing.  * 

"August  21. — The  enemy  in  close  proximity,  and  we  have 
to  move  cautiously.  *  *  *  From  a  hill  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Rapidan  we  have  a  magnificent  view  for  miles.  Three  col« 


270  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

umns — long  black  winding  lines  of  men,  their  muskets  gleaming 
in  the  sunshine  like  silver  spears — are  in  sight,  moving  in  the 
direction  of  Fredericksburg  or  down  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
river.  Those  skirmishing  in  front.  Good  many  stragglers  by 
the  wayside,  but  they  are  generally  broken-down  soldiers,  and 
trudge  slowly  along  in  the  tracks  of  their  comrades.  An  at- 
tractive part  of  the  procession  is  the  baggage  trains,  wending 
their  way  in  the  rear  of  the  army.  Thousands  of  wagons  are 
in  sight,  and  between  the  stalling  of  trains,  the  shouting  of 
drivers,  and  the  chaotic  confusion  which  emanates  from  the 
motley  mass,  no  man  can  complain  of  the  ennui  of  the  march. 

"  Nothing  can  be  more  picturesquely  beautiful  than  the  biv- 
ouac at  night.  Thousands  of  troops  line  the  woods  on  both 
sides  of  the  road  for  miles.  Camp-fires  are  glimmering  in  the 
trees,  muskets  are  stacked  along  the  edge  of  the  forest,  and  the 
men  are  disposed  in  every  conceivable  manner.  Some  are  rolled 
up  in  their  blankets  and  already  dreaming  away  the  fatigues  of 
the  day ;  some  are  sitting  around  the  camp-fires,  watching  the 
roasting  ears,  and  discussing  the  '  coming  events  which  cast 
their  shadows  before,'  and  some  are  among  the  trees,  moving  ta 
and  fro  in  the  gray  film  of  smoke  that  has  arisen  from  the  myr- 
iad fires  and  rests  upon  the  earth.  We  live  on  what  we  can 
get — now  and  then  an  ear  of  corn,  fried  green  apples,  or  a  bit 
of  ham  broiled  on  a  stick,  but  quite  as  frequently  do  without 
either  from  morning  until  night.  We  sleep  on  the  ground  with- 
out any  other  covering  than  a  blanket,  and  consider  ourselves 
fortunate  if  we  are  not  frozen  stiff  before  morning.  The  nights 
are  both  damp  and  cold." 

A  portion  of  this  extract  paints  with  great  accuracy  the  com- 
missariat of  the  Southern  army.  "  A  bit  of  ham  broiled  on  a 
stick "  was  a  luxury  with  the  men,  and  the  time  was  soon  to 
come  when  it  would  be  wholly  unattainable ;  when  the  entire 
force  would  be  called  on  to  subsist  upon  green  corn  roasted  on 
the  embers — sole  bill  of  fare  of  the  tired  and  hungry  soldier. 

General  Lee  had  thus  massed  his  army  between  the  Rappa- 
hannock  and  the  Rapidan,  directly  on  the  enemy's  flank ;  but  in 


LEE    ADVANCES    FROM   THE    RAPID  AN.  271 

his  expectation  of  a  decisive  battle  there,  he  soon  found  himseli 
disappointed.  General  Pope  had  no  intention  of  renewing  a 
trial  of  strength  with  the  Confederates  after  his  experience  at 
Cedar  Run ;  and  with  a  prudence  which  ill  assorted  with  his 
publicly  expressed  determination  to  take  no  step  toward  that 
"rear"  where  "lurked  disaster  and  shame,"  he  no  sooner  sus- 
pected the  intended  attack  than  he  fell  back  promptly  to  the 
north  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  and,  crowning  every  hill  with 
his  batteries,  prepared  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  river. 

Jackson  lost  no  time  in  following  up  this  retreat  of  the  ene- 
my, and  on  the  21st  moved  with  Taliaferro's  brigade  in  front  to 
Beverly's  ford,  the  main  crossing  of  the  Rappahannock,  just 
above  the  point  where  the  railroad  intersects  it.  The  enemy 
were  seen  in  force  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  Jackson  promptly 
ordered  forward  the  batteries  of  his  division  under  Major  Shu- 
maker,  which  opened  fire  and  succeeded  in  silencing  the  Federal 
artillery,  and  dispersing  their  infantry  supports.  This  repulse, 
however,  was  only  temporary.  General  Stuart,  who  had  made 
a  reconnoissance  beyond  the  Rappahannock  with  his  cavalry  and 
horse  artillery,  reported  an  advance  in  force,  and  heavy  columns 
soon  appeared  on  the  opposite  bank.  Their  batteries  were 
placed  in  position,  and  a  rapid  and  determined  artillery  duel  en- 
sued between  the  Federal  batteries  and  those  of  Taliaferro. 
This  lasted  all  day.  and  when  the  shades  of  night  descended 
the  landscape  was  s*ill  lit  up  by  bursting  shell  and  the  lurid  glare 
of  the  cannon. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d  Jackson  withdrew  from  the  ene- 
my's front  at  Beverly's  ford,  and  advancing  up  the  bank  of  the 
river  with  Ewell  in  front,  crossed  Hazel  River,  a  tributary  of 
the  Rappahannock,  at  Welford's  ford.  Here  Trimble's  brigade 
was  left  to  protect  the  flank  of  the  wagon  train  from  attack, 
and  the  necessity  of  this  precaution  was  soon  rendered  apparent. 
About  noon  a  small  party  of  the  enemy  made  a  dash  at  the 
train  and  captured  a  portion  of  it.  They  were  attacked,  how- 
ever, in  turn,  the  wagons  recaptured,  and  the  whole  party  made 
prisoners.  About  four  o'clock  a  more  determined  effort  waa 


272  LIFE   OF    STOXEWALL   JACKSON. 

made  to  delay  Jackson's  march,  and  cut  off  his  trains.  A  con- 
siderable Federal  force  crossed  the  river  below,  and  attacked  the' 
wagons,  but  this  met  with  no  better  success.  Trimble,  sup- 
ported by  Hood  (commanding  General  Lougstreet's  advance), 
met  this  party,  and  after  a  sharp  engagement  routed  and  drove 
them  beyond  the  river  again,  a  considerable  portion  of  their 
force  having  been  taken  prisoners. 

Jackson  continued  to  advance,  paying  little  attention  to  these 
assaults  on  his  rear,  and  reached  a  point  opposite  Freeman's 
ford,  the  next  ford  above  the  mouth  of  Hazel  Eiver.  This  he 
found  guarded  by  a  strong  force,  and  he  marched  on  to  Warren- 
ton  Springs,  on  the  old  stage  road  from  Warrenton  to  Culpepper 
Court-House.  Here  he  found  the  bridge  over  the  river  de- 
stroyed, but  the  point  slightly  guarded,  and  no  time  was  lost  in 
endeavoring  to  secure  a  position  of  so  much  importance.  The 
13th  Georgia,  Colonel  Douglas,  with  the  eight  guns  of  Brown 
and  Dement,  and  afterwards  Early's  brigade,  were  ordered  to 
cross,  and  the  Springs  were  soon  in  his  possession,  with  a  num- 
ber of  prisoners. 

This  movement  had  no  sooner  been  effected  than  it  com- 
menced raining,  and  Early's  position  became  one  of  very  great 
peril.  The  Federal  forces  were  rapidly  approaching  to  attack 
him  ;  the  river  began  to  rise,  and  he  was  completely  cut  off  from 
the  main  body  on  the  southern  bank.  Urgent  messages  were 
despatched  by  General  Early  describing  his  situation,  and  stating 
that  a  reconnoissance  in  person  had  discovered  the  enemy  in  his 
front  and  on  both  flanks.  To  this  Jackson  responded  briefly  : 

"  Tell  General  Early  to  hold  his  position." 

The  23d  passed,  and  the  enemy  were  nearly  in  collision  with. 
Early.  But  Jackson  had  not  been  .idle.  Details  of  men  had 
been  constructing  all  day  a  temporary  bridge  over  the  swollen 
river,  and  by  dawn  on  the  24th  the  infantry  and  artillery  were 
all  safely  over  on  the  southern  bank  again.  Early  h«d  scarcely 
crossed  when  the  enemy  pressed  forward,  and  a  fierce  cannon- 
ade commenced  between  their  batteries  and  those  of  Hill. 

At  the  very  moment  when  Jackson  was  thus  feeling  the  eu- 


LEE  ADVANCES  FKOM  THE  RAPID  AN.         273 

emy  on  the  Rappahannock,  General  Stuart,  at  the  head  of  his 
cavalry,  had  by  one  of  those  bold  dashes  which  characterized 
him,  penetrated  to  their'  rear,  and,  in  the  midst  of  night  and 
storm,  struck  them  at  Catlet's  Station,  on  the  Orange  and  Alex- 
andria Railroad,  where  General  Pope  then  was  in  person.  The 
men  on  this  occasion  behaved  with  much  gallantry,  charging  at 
a  gallop  through  the  midnight  darkness,  deepened  by  a  heavy 
thunder-storm,  over  rough  and  unknown  ground,  upon  the  camps 
of  the  enemy.  The  attack  threw  every  thing  into  confusion, 
and  the  Federal  officers  fled  from  their  tents  into  the  darkness, 
almost  without  firing  a  shot ;  but  a  heavy  volley  from  their  men, 
behind  the  railroad,  was  poured  into  the  faces  of  the  southern 
horsemen.  General  Pope  escaped,  leaving  his  coat  and  hat  be- 
hind, but  several  of  his  officers  were  captured.  The  most  val- 
uable part  of  the  captured  property  was  a  box  of  official  papers, 
which  are  said  to  have  clearly  exhibited  the  strength  of  his 
army ;  his  anxious  desire  for  reinforcements ;  his  expectation 
that  they  would  soon  arrive ;  and  the  slender  hopes  which  he 
indulged  of  holding  his  ground,  if  the  Confederate  commander 
attacked  him  in  force.  General  Stuart  hastened  to  lay  these 
valuable  documents  before  General  Lee,  and  the  revelations 
which  they  afforded  of  the  enemy's  numbers  and  designs,  prob 
ably  led  to  the  decisive  movement  which  speedily  followed  the 
raid. 

General  Lee  determined  to  send  a  column  against  the  ene- 
my's rear,  to  get  between  him  and  Washington,  cut  his  com- 
munications, and  in  conjunction  with  the  rest  of  the  army,  which 
would  follow,  engage  his  whole  force,  and  capture  or  destroy  it 
before  it  could  retreat  to  the  Potomac.  This  movement  would 
necessarily  be  attended  with  great  peril,  as  the  force  thus  de- 
tached would  be  entirely  separated  from  the  main  body  under 
Lee  ;  would  move  straight  to  a  position  directly  in  the  path  of 
the  retreating  enemy,  and  might  be  called  upon  to  sustain  the 
assault  of  his  entire  column  before  succor  could  reach  it.  To 
effect  the  object  of  the  commander-in-chief,  the  utmost  energy, 
judgment,  and  decision  were  necessary  in  the  officer  who  under- 
18 


LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSOX. 


took  the  expedition,  and  a  man  must  be  selected  who  had  capa 
city  to  operate  alone,  and  whose  movements  would  be  rapid  and 
decisive.  The  officer  selected  to  conduct  this  flank  movement 
was  Jackson. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

THE   MARCH   TO    MANASSAS. 

JACKSON  lost  no  time.  On  Monday,  the  25th  of  August,  he 
retired  from  the  position  opposite  Warrenton  Springs,  and  as- 
cending the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock,  passed  through  the  lit- 
tle village  of  Amissville,  and  crossed  the  river  at  Hinson's  ford, 
dragging  his  artillery  with  difficulty  up  the  narrow  and  rock- 
ribbed  road  beyond.  From  this  moment  rapidity  of  movement 
was  essential  to  success.  The  presence  of  Jackson  in  that  re- 
gion could  not  long  be  concealed,  and  it  was  vitally  important 
that  the  Confederate  forces  should  push  on  and  pass  through 
Thoroughfare  Gap — their  proposed  line  of  advance — before  the 
enemy  could  occupy  that  strong  fortress  and  bar  their  passage. 

The  famous  "  Foot  Cavalry  "  were  now  called  upon  to  put 
forth  their  utmost  strength.  A  long  and  exhausting  march  was 
before  them ;  every  moment  was  precious  ;  Thoroughfare  Gap 
must  be  reached  before  the  enemy  arrived,  and  the  ordinary 
rules  of  marching  must  be  changed.  As  though  recognizing 
the  truth  of  the  maxim  that  wherever  two  men  can  place  their 
feet  an  army  can  move,  Jackson  pushed  on  beneath  the  shadow 
of  the  Blue  Ridge,  "  across  open  fields,"  declares  one  of  hi? 
men,  "  by  strange  country  roads  and  comfortable  homesteads, 
by  a  little  town  in  Fauquier,  called  Orleans,  on  and  on,  as  if  he 
would  never  cease."  When  the  Confederate  forces  advanced  by 
the  same  route  in  June,  1863,  a  soldier  asked  an  old  negro 
whither  the  road  which  they  were  then  travelling  led. 

"  All  right,   master,"  replied  the  old  man,  with  an  astute 


THE   MARCH   TO   MANASSAS.  275 

smile,  "  you  are  going  the  same  road  Mass  Jackson  took  last  year, 
only  he  took  the  nigh  cuts ! " 

By  these  "  nigh  cuts,"  through  fields  and  farm  gates,  often 
through  gaps  hastily  opened  in  the  fences,  Jackson  continued  to 
advance.  The  troops  were  not  permitted  to  pause  for  an  in- 
stant ;  weary,  footsore,  almost  without  food,  they  were  still 
marched  steadily  forward,  and  at  night,  worn  out  but  gay,  hun- 
gry but  full  of  enthusiasm,  they  bivouacked  near  the  town  of 
Salem,  on  the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad. 

An  officer  of  Jackson's  staff  presents  a  sketch  of  the  leader 
and  his  men  at  this  moment,  which  is  interesting. 

"When  his  corps  reached  Salem,"  says  this  MS.,  "  Gen- 
eral Jackson  rode  up  to  the  officer  commanding  the  front 
brigade,  and  complimented  him  upon  the  good  condition  of  his 
men,  and  the  fine  march  made  that  day.  They  had  then 
travelled  more  than  twenty  miles,  and  were  still  moving  on 
briskly,  and  without  stragglers.  General  Jackson  stood  on  the 
side  of  the  road,  and  looked  with  evident  pleasure  on  the  full  and 
well-closed  ranks  ;  and  when  they  commenced  their  usual  cheer- 
ing, he  raised  his  hand  to  stop  them,  and  all  along  the  lines 
went  the  words,  4  Don't  shout,  boys,  the  Yankees  will  hear  us  ! ' 
The  regiments  passed  by  without  music  or  noise,  not  even  a 
loud-spoken  word  could  be  heard,  nothing  but  the  steady  tramp 
of  the  men.  As  they  passed,  they  raised  their  caps,  and  waved 
them  around  their  heads,  and  the  enthusiastic  love  which  beamed 
on  every  Countenance,  showed  how  hard  it  was  to  suppress  the 
usual  greeting.  Those  who  saw  General  Jackson  that  evening 
as  he  sat  on  his  horse,  cap  in  hand,  with  the  westering  sun 
shining  full  on  his  firm  kind  face,  could  not  say  that  he  was 
without  pride.  He  was  full  of  it — his  face  all  aglow  with  it ; 
but  it  was  for  his  men,  not  one  iota  for  himself.  When  they 
bad  all  passed,  he  turned  and  said  :  '  Who  could  fail  to  win  vic- 
tory with  those  men  ! ' ' 

In  other  portions  of  the  line  the  men  could  not  restrain  their 
enthusiasm  at  sight  of  the  dingy »uniform,  the  old  yellow  cap, 
and  the  firm  face  beneath.  In  spite  of  every  caution,  and  the 


276  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

orders  of  the  General  in  person,  they  whirled  their  caps  arounc. 
their  heads,  and  cheered  him  tumultuously.  To  this  the  soldier- 
heart  of  Jackson  succumbed,  the  disobedience  of  orders  was 
forgotten,  and  turning  to  a  person  near  him,  with  a  proud  smile 
which  he  could  not  suppress,  he  said :  "  You  see  I  can't  stop 
them  ! " 

Reaching  Salem  at  midnight,  the  troops  were  again  in  mo- 
tion at  daylight ;  and  passing  "  crowds,  all  welcoming,  cheering, 
staring  with  blank  amazement"  at  the  sight  of  Confederate 
troops  in  that  region,  pressed  on  through  the  plains  to  Thorough- 
fare Gap.  The  mountain-gorge  was  undefended,  the  enemy 
had  been  "  headed  off;  "  and  passing  rapidly  between  the  frown- 
ing ramparts  with  their  belts  of  dusky  pines,  Jackson  with  his 
army,  hungry  and  exhausted,  but  as  resolute  as  ever,  descended 
like  a  hawk  upon  Manassas. 

General  Pope  in  his  official  report  declares  that  he  knew  of 
Jackson's  movement.  If  he  estimated  its  importance  correctly,, 
his  failure  to  oppose  it  is  not  flattering  to  his  skill  as  a  command- 
er. It  is  probable,  however,  that  he  regarded  it  as  a  move- 
ment chiefly  if  not  entirely  of  cavalry,  a  mere  raid  against  his 
depot  at  Manassas.  It  is  improbable  that  the  amount  of  force 
under  Jackson  was  discovered.  General  Stuart  was  on  the 
right  flank  of  the  Confederate  column  with  a  cordon  of  pickets, 
and  a  network  of  scouting  parties,  scouring  the  whole  region, 
and  to  penetrate  Stuart's  chain  of  videttes,  in  any  important 
movement,  was  next  to  impossible.  Had  General  Pope  felt  con- 
vinced that  the  force  advancing  to  assail  his  rear  was  not  a  body 
of  cavalry  only,  but  an  army  corps  under  a  commander  so  active 
and  dangerous  as  Jackson,  his  operations  on  the  Rappahannock 
would  doubtless  have  terminated  two  days  sooner.  Thorough- 
fare Gap  would  have  been  defended ;  and  the  conditions  under 
which  the  great  battles  at  Manassas  were  fought  would  have 
been  changed. 

General  Stuart  had  pushed  in  advance  with  his  cavalry, 
ascended  the  Bull  Run  Mountain  by  a  winding  and  rocky  road, 
10  the  right  of  the  gap,  and  descending  the  eastern  acclivity 


THE    MAECH    TO    M4NASSAS.  277 

taken  his  post  again  in  front  and  on  the  flanks  of  the  army, 
which,  on  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday,  the  26th,  reached  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Manassas. 

This  march  will  always  remain  famous  in  history.  It  was 
the  achievement  of  a  leader  fertile  in  resource,  close  in  his  cal- 
culation of  time  and  material,  and  unerring  in  decision  and  exe- 
cution. Jackson  had  either  outgeneralled  or  surprised  the  com- 
mander of  the  Federal  forces,  and  General  Pope,  who  up  to  that 
time  had  persistently  kept  his  eyes  upon  the  Confederate  column 
in  his  front  upon  the  Rappahannock,  now  found  himself  cut  off 
from  Washington  by  a  column  in  his  rear,  and  forced  to  retreat 
or  fight  upon  terms  dictated  by  his  adversary. 

Jackson  had  thus  accomplished  with  entire  success  one  part 
of  his  programme,  and  the  execution  of  the  movement  was  wor- 
thy of  his  reputation  as  a  soldier.  But  in  contemplating  the 
success  of  the  leader,  we  ought  not  to  lose  sight  of  the  credit 
which  belongs  to  the  troops.  They  had  on  this,  as  on  many 
other  occasions,  displayed  a  soldiership,  endurance,  and  cheerful- 
ness under  privation  and  hardship  which  would  do  honor  to  the 
best  fighting  races  of  history.  In  two  days  they  had  marched 
about  fifty  miles  to  make  an  attack,  which  is  very  different  from 
a  retreat.  This  rapid  advance  was  made  to  gain  a  position  in 
which  they  expected  to  be  immediately  assailed  by  the  large  force 
under  General  Pope,  certain  to  be  united  against  Jackson  as 
soon  as  it  could  be  brought  up.  Many  of  the  men  were  bare- 
footed, and  limped  along  "  weary  unto  death."  They  were  faint 
from  want  of  food  and  broken  down  by.  absence  of  rest,  but,  as 
we  have  seen,  moved  on  "  briskly,  and  without  stragglers." 
Only  those  who  saw  the  Confederate  troops  at  this  time,  before 
and  after  the  second  battle  of  Manassas,  can  realize  their  cheer- 
ful and  soldierly  bearing  under  privations  which  were  calculated 
to  break  down  their  strength  and  quench  all  their  ardor.  The 
phenomenon  was  here  presented  of  an  army  living  for  many 
days  upon  green  corn  and  unripe  apples  only — and  during  this 
time  making  exhausting  marches,  engaging  in  incessant  combats, 
and  repulsing  every  assault.  The  tioops  which  presented  this 


278  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

worthy  and  honorable  spectacle  were  for  the  most  part  composed 
of  young  men  who  had  never  known  what  it  was  to  want  even 
the  delicacies  of  life.  The  flower  of  the  Southern  youth,  raised 
in  affluence  and  luxury,  were  toiling  on  over  the  dusty  highways, 
or  lying  exhausted  by  the  roadside,  or  fighting  when  so  feeble 
that  they  could  scarcely  handle  their  muskets  ;  but  a  something 
stern  and  resolute  in  the  blood  of  these  boys  seemed  to  bear  them 
up,  keep  them  to  their  work,  and  make  them  laugh  even  in  the 
midst  of  their  sufferings.  The  writer  of  this  page  saw  the  men 
of  the  South  at  this  great  crisis,  and  his  pulse  still  throbs  as  'he 
recalls  the  noble  spectacle  which  they  presented. 

Thoroughfare  Gap  was  passed,  the  open  country  lay  before 
Jackson,  and  at  Gainesville  General  Stuart  came  up  with  his 
cavalry,  and  took  position  on  the  right  flank.  It  was  important 
to  strike  the  Federal  communications  immediately  and  attack 
Manassas  if  possible  before  General  Pope  received  intelligence 
of  the  advance  upon  his  rear ;  and  with  this  end  in  view,  Jack- 
son hurried  forward  to  Bristoe,  a  station  on  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  Railroad,  four  miles  from  Manassas,  which  was 
reached  and  a  small  guard  captured  after  sunset.  As  Stuart  ap- 
proached this  place  the  sound  of  cars  was  heard  from  the  direc- 
tion of  Warrenton,  and  a  train  was  soon  seen  approaching 
rapidly.  Colonel  Munford,  of  the  2d  Virginia  cavalry,  fired  into 
it  as  it  passed  at  full  speed,  but  did  not  succeed  in  stopping  it. 
It  continued  its  way  and  reached  Manassas  in  safety.  Other 
trains  were  heard  coming  from  the  same  direction,  however,  and, 
dividing  his  force,  General  Ewell  took  possession  of  two  points 
on  the  railroad,  which  was  obstructed  by  logs  upon  the  track. 
The  trains  came  on  without  suspicion,  and  the  result  in  this  case 
was  more  satisfactory.  Two  were  captured,  one  having  been 
thrown  off  the  track — and  others  still  were  heard  coming. 

But  by  this  time  the  firing  seems  to  have  been  heard,  and  to 
have  excited  suspicion.  The  trains  in  the  direction  of  Warren- 
ton  uttered  shrill  screams  which  experts  declared  to  signify,  "  Is 
all  right?"  One  of  these  railroad  experts,  named  Foreman, 
jumped  on  the  prostrate  engine,  turned  a  portion  of  the  ma- 


THE    MAECH   TO   MANASSAS.  279 

chineiy,  and  signalled  back  :  "  All  right — come  on  " — General 
Fitz  Lee  drawing  up  his  cavalry  to  fire  upon  them  as  they  drew 
near.  But  the  alarm  had  been  given  ;  the  trains  would  not  run 
the  perilous  gauntlet ;  and  the  troops  must  turn  their  attention 
elsewhere. 

Jackson  was  thus  completely  in  the  enemy's  rear ;  held  pos- 
session of  the  railroad  which  supplied  their  army  ;  and  the  first 
act  of  the  great  drama  had  been  played.  When  the  curtain  de- 
scended, this  was  the  position  of  affairs :  Lee  was  on  General 
Pope's  flank ;  Jackson  in  his  rear ;  the  Federal  reenforcements 
from  Washington  and  Fredericksburg  had  not  arrived ;  General 
Pope  must  fight  on  ground  and  conditions  selected  by  his  enemy, 
A  cool  and  determined  spirit  would  not,  however,  have  regarded 
the  situation  as  desperate.  Lee,  with  his  main  body,  was  still 
a  long  way  off ;  Burnside  was  approaching  from  below;  reen- 
forcements were  being  hurried  forward  from  Alexandria ;  and 
Jackson  was  playing  a  game  which  might  with  good  hopes  of 
success  be  retorted  against  himself.  Proceeding  upon  this  view 
of  the  subject,  General  Pope  put  his  columns  in  motion  and  ad- 
vanced to  protect  his  communications,  and  attack  Jackson  before 
he  could  be  reenforced  by  Lee. 

Our  narrative  deals  with  the  movements  of  the  personage 
thus  threatened.  The  first  thing  necessary  was  to  gain  posses- 
sion of  Manassas.  Night  had  now  descended,  and  the  men  were 
exhausted  by  the  heavy  marching  of  the  last  two  days  ;  but  the 
situation  was  critical ;  the  destruction  of  the  stores  at  Manassaa 
essential  to  Jackson's  designs — and  he  determined  to  make  the 
attack  without  delay.  General  Trimble  volunteered  to  under- 
take it,  and  accordingly  advanced  with  the  21st  North  Carolina 
and  the  21st  Georgia — in  all  about  five  hundred  men.  In  order 
to  insure  the  success  of  the  assault,  General  Stuart  was  subse- 
quently directed  to  move  with  a  portion  of  his  cavalry  to  co- 
operate with  Trimble,  and  "  as  the  ranking  officer,  to  take  com- 
mand of  the  expedition."  The  Federal  force  at  Manassas  made 
but  slight  resistance.  General  Stuart  advanced  ahead  of  the 
infantry  with  his  cavalry,  until  challenged  by  the  enemy's  iate-. 


•280  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

rior  sentinels,  and  fired  on  with  canister  ;  and  finding  the  ground 
impracticable  for  cavalry  at  night,  sent  for  the  infantry.  When 
it  arrived,  he  directed  General  Trimble  to  rest  his  centre  on  the 
railroad  and  advance,  which  was  immediately  done,  and  after  a 
brief  contest  the  place  was  captured,  Colonel  Wickham,  with  a 
portion  of  the  cavalry,  cutting  off  the  enemy's  retreat. 

The  amount  of  arms  and  stores  captured  at  Manassas  was 
very  large.  Eight  pieces  of  artillery ;  seventy-two  horses  and 
equipments  ;  three  hundred  prisoners  ;  two  hundred  negroes  ;  two 
hundred  new  tents ;  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  additional 
horses,  exclusive  of  artillery  horses  ;  ten  locomotives  ;  two  rail- 
road trains  of  enormous  size,  loaded  with  many  millions'  worth 
of  stores  ;  fifty  thousand  pounds  of  bacon  ;  one  thousand  barrels 
of  beef ;  twenty  thousand  barrels  of  pork  ;  several  thousand  bar- 
rels of  flour,  and  a  large  quantity  of  forage,  fell  into  Jackson's 
hands.  In  addition  to  these  public  stores,  were  the  contents  of 
the  sutlers'  shops,  containing,  says  an  eye-witness,  "  an  amount 
and  variety  of  property  such  as  I  had  never  conceived  of." 
The  same  writer  says  :  "  'Twas  a  curious  sight  to  see  our  ragged 
and  famished  men  helping  themselves  to  every  imaginable  article 
of  luxury  or  necessity,  whether  of  clothing,  food,  or  what  not. 
For  my  part  I  got  a  tooth-brush,  a  box  of  candles,  a  quantity  of 
lobster  salad,  a  barrel  of  coffee,  and  other  things  which  I  forget. 
The  scene  utterly  beggared  description.  Our  men  had  been  liv- 
ing on  roasted  corn  since  crossing  the  Rappahannock,  and  we 
had  brought  no  wagons,  so  we  could  carry  little  away  of  the 
riches  before  us.  But  the  men  could  eat  one  meal  at  least.  So 
they  were  marched  up,  and  as  much  of  every  thing  eatable 
served  out  as  they  could  carry.  To  see  a  starving  man  eating 
lobster  salad  and  drinking  Rhine  wine,  barefooted  and  in  tatters, 
was  curious  ;  the  whole  thing  was  indescribable." 

This  vast  mass  of  public  and  private  stores,  with  the  excep- 
tion  of  what  the  men  consumed  or  carried  away  with  them,  a 
bakery,  furnishing  daily  fifteen  thousand  loaves  of  bread,  and  all 
the  public  buildings  of  the  place,  were  consigned  to  the  flames 


THE    MARCH    TO    MANASSAS.  28] 

and  utterly  destroyed.  Jackson  was  not  to  hold  the  place  with- 
out a  further  struggle,  however,  on  the  part  of  the  enemy. 

Intelligence  of  the  danger  to  which  this  great  magazine  of 
stores  was  exposed  having  reached  Washington,  a  brigade  of 
New  Jersey  troops,  under  General  Taylor,  was  promptly  ordered 
forward  by  railroad  to  defend  it.  The  train  reached  the  bridge 
over  Bull  Run  about  seven  in  the  morning  of  the  27th  ;  the 
troops  were  disembarked,  and  the  entire  command  hurried  for- 
ward as  rapidly  as  possible  toward  Manassas.  The  Confederate 
skirmishers,  who  had  been  posted  along  the  crest  of  hills  over- 
looking Bull  Run,  fell  back  before  the  enemy,  and  they  were  thus 
drawn  on  toward  the  fortifications,  where  the  infantry  and  dis- 
mounted cavalry  awaited  them  in  silence.  They  had  advanced 
in  line  of  battle  within  close  and  deadly  range,  when  suddenly 
the  artillery  in  the  breastworks  opened,  and  a  storm  of  shot  and 
shell  greeted  them.  They  fell  back  behind  a  sheltering  crest, 
and  were  at  once  attacked  by  the  Confederate  infantry,  who 
drove  them  through  Blackburn's  ford,  to  the  opposite  side  of 
Bull  Run.  Here  they  were  fired  into  by  the  Stuart  Horse  Artil- 
lery, under  Major  Pelham.  General  Taylor  was  killed ;  his  son, 
nephew,  and  at  least  one-half  of  his  officers  wounded,  and  the 
enemy  fell  back  in  full  retreat. 

Hill's  and  Jackson's  divisions  were  now  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Manassas,  and  had  driven  off  some  of  the  Federal  cavalry 
and  artillery  which  still  hovered  near  in  the  direction  of  the  old 
battle-field.  EwelPs  division  had  remained  at  Bristoe.  This 
was  to  receive  the  first  attack  of  Pope's  column,  pressing  forward 
to  guard  his  rear.  The  advance  force  of  General  Pope  was  led 
by  General  Hooker,  an  officer  of  energy  and  ability,  and  it  soon 
became  apparent  that  the  whole  of  General  Pope's  army  had 
fallen  back  from  the  Rappahannock,  and  was  about  to  throw 
itself  upon  the  comparatively  small  force  opposed  to  it. 

The  enemy  appeared  in  Ewell's  front  in  the  afternoon,  and 
their  forces  were  visible  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see.  The  Con- 
federate commander  saw  that  he  was  largely  outnumbered,  and 
could  effect  nothing  against  this  great  force,  but  he  nevertheless 


282  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

advanced  to  the  attack,  determined  to  hold  them  in  check  unti 
Jackson  had  accomplished  his  work  at  Manassas.  The  6th  and 
8th  Louisiana  regiments  and  the  60th  Georgia  were  promptly 
thrown  forward  to  engage  two  Federal  brigades  which  were  now 
within  close  range  ;  and  Ewell  opened  with  a  rapid  fire  of  artil- 
lery, which  drove  the  Federal  advance  force  back  in  confusion. 
Their  places  were,  however,  taken  by  fresh  columns  of  Federal 
troops,  and  heavy  reinforcements  were  rapidly  moved  to  the 
front,  General  Pope  evidently  desiring  to  bring  on  a  general  en- 
gagement immediately.  Ewell,  however,  declined  the  proffered 
battle,  and,  drawing  up  Early' s  brigade  to  protect  his  rear,  fell 
back  in  the  direction  of  Manassas.  Two  regiments  of  cavalry, 
under  Munford  and  Rosser,  covered  Early's  rear ;  Captain  Bos- 
well,  of  the  engineers,  destroyed  the  bridge,  and  the  column  fell 
back  unpursued. 

This  affair  was  claimed  by  the  Federal  commander  as  an 
important  success,  his  impression  being,  apparently,  that  he  had 
thus  repulsed,  without  difficulty.  Jackson's  entire  force.  The 
intelligence  was  telegraphed  to  Washington,  where  it  was 
printed  ;  and  this  was  the  origin  of  the  opinion  held  throughout 
the  North,  for  the  moment,  that  Jackson  was  "  cut  off,"  and 
would  inevitably  be  captured. 

The  Confederate  cavalry  had  meanwhile  exerted  all  their  ac- 
tivity. During  the  entire  day  they  were  engaged  in  observing 
the  enemy,  reporting  his  movements,  and  capturing  detached 
parties  in  all  directions.  General  Fitz  Lee  was  sent  on  an  ex- 
pedition toward  Fairfax  Court-House,  to  still  further  damage 
the  Federal  communications,  and,  if  possible,  cut  off  the  retreat 
of  Taylor's  brigade  ;  and  the  entire  region  was  scoured  by  ef- 
ficient officers  of  cavalry,  who  notified  General  Jackson  of  every 
movement. 

At  nightfall  Manassas  was  evacuated  ;  and  when  the  enemy 
took  possession  on  the  following  morning,  Stuart's  few  remain- 
ing cavalry  falling  back  before  them,  they  found  only  smoking 
ruins,  and  the  burnt  and  blackened  remains  of  their  great  masses 
of  stores. 


THE   MARCH    TO   MANASSAS.  283 

The  destruction  of  these  stores  was  of  vital  importance  to 
General  Jackson.  It  doubtless  seemed  hard  to  his  hungry  sol- 
diers, that  after  a  march  of  fifty  miles,  almost  without  food,  they 
should  be  called  upon  to  destroy  the  tempting  commissary 
stores,  and  innumerable  luxuries  of  the  sutlers'  shops,  almost 
before  they  had  satisfied  the  cravings  of  nature.  But  the  person- 
al comfort  of  the  army  was  at  that  moment  a  very  small  item  in 
the  account.  The  destruction  of  these  stores  was  one  of  the 
greatest  objects  of  the  expedition  ;  General  Pope  depended  upon 
them  for  the  subsistence  of  his  army ;  and  the  success  or  failure 
of  the  grand  operations  about  to  commence  was  largely  involved 
in  depriving  the  enemy  of  their  benefit. 

General  Pope's  official  report  shows  how  thoroughly  he  was 
crippled  by  the  capture  of  Manassas.  He  rests  his  apology  for 
the  defeat  which  followed  upon  the  want  of  rations  for  his  men 
and  forage  for  his  horses.  Describing  his  starving  condition, 
and  inveighing  against  General  McClellan  for  refusing  to  de- 
spatch trains  of  supplies  without  an  escort  of  cavalry,  he  attrib- 
utes all  to  the  destruction  at  Manassas.  There  were  some 
grounds  for  his  statement.  Even  if  General  Fitz  Lee's  cavalry 
had  permitted  a  convoy  to  pass,  it  could  not  have  arrived  in 
time  ;  and  General  Pope  declares  in  his  report,  that  whether 
defeating  Jackson,  or  defeated  by  him,  it  was  a  simple  question 
of  time  whether  he  should  fall  back  behind  Bull  Run,  toward  his 
supplies,  or  "  starve."  He  adds  that  the  battle  of  Saturday  was 
fought  because  he  had  no  option  in  the  matter,  and  could  not 
delay  an  engagement.  "  Starvation"  for  men  and  horses  stared 
him  in  the  face,  and  drove  him  to  renew  the  action. 

Such  were  the  excellent  results  immediately  achieved  by 
Jackson  in  the  capture  of  the  enemy's  magazines  at  Manassas. 
That  historic  place  had  thus  been  twice  destroyed  by  the  Confed- 
erate commanders — first  by  Johnston,  and  then  by  Jackson. 

It  had  twice  been  occupied  by  the  enemy,  on  the  next  day, 
but  under  different  circumstances.  The  troops  which  took  pos- 
session when  Johnston  evacuated  and  destroyed  it  in  March, 
were  the  advance  guard  of  an  army  thoroughly  provisioned  and 


284  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

in  high  spirits.  Those  who  entered  it  on  the  28th  of  Augusl 
were  hungry,  and  with  spirits  already  darkened  by  the  shadow 
of  Jackson. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

JACKSON     AT     BAT. 

JACKSON  turned  his  back  on  the  burning  houses  of  Manassas 
at  nightfall. 

His  position  was  now  perilous  in  the  extreme.  The  main 
body  of  Lee's  army  was  in  motion,  and  marching  by  the  same 
route  which  he  had  followed,  to  his  assistance  ;  but  General 
Pope  was  moving  to  attack  him,  and  the  head  of  the  Federal 
column  had  already  come  in  collision  with  General  E\vell.  Lee 
had  the  arc  of  the  circle  to  follow,  while  his  adversary  moved 
over  the  chord  ;  and  all  now  depended  upon  the  former's  celeri- 
ty, and  Jackson's  strategy  in  meanwhile  keeping  the  enemy  at 
bay.  If  General  Pope  could  once  come  up  with  and  strike 
Jackson  before  Lee  and  Longstreet  arrived,  the  contest  would  be 
desperate,  as  the  Confederates  would  be  greatly  outnumbered ; 
and  to  ward  off  the  threatened  blow  until  the  main  body  came 
to  his  succor,  was  now  the  aim  of  General  Jackson. 

The  movement  brought  into  play  all  his  resources  of  energy, 
nerve,  prudence,  and  generalship.  He  might  have  retired  with- 
out difficulty  before  the  enemy,  in  the  direction  of  Aldie,  and 
turning  the  Bull  Run  Mountain  at  its  northern  extremity,  formed 
a  junction  with  Lougstreet,  aud  defied  the  foe ;  but  this  with- 
drawal of  the  advance  force  was  no  part  of  the  plan  of  General 
Lee.  The  design  of  that  commander  was  to  engage  the  enernj 
with  his  whole  force  in  the  neighborhood  of  Manassas,  while 
they  were  laboring  under  the  embarrassments  occasioned  by  the 
destruction  of  their  stores  and  communications — while  the  men 
and  horses  were  hungry  and  exhausted — and  before  supplies 
could  reach  them  from  Alexandria.  The  retreat  toward  Aldie, 


JACKSON   AT   BAT.  285 

on  Jackson's  part,  would  have  lost  to  him  half  the  fruits  of  the 
great  movement — thwarted  General  Lee's  plans — and  reversed 
the  whole  programme  of  operations.  He  accordingly  banished  all 
thought  of  such  a  retrograde  movement,  and  with  that  stubborn 
nerve  which  characterized  him,  determined  to  fall  back  slowly  to 
a  position  within  supporting  distance  of  Longstreet,  contest  every 
inch  of  the  ground,  and  only  retire  when  the  existence  of  his  army 
made  it  necessary. 

Accordingly,  just  after  suriset,  he  put  his  troops  in  motion, 
and  began  the  movement  which  was  to  effect  his  object.  His 
corps  was  divided,  and  took  different  routes.  Hill's  division, 
with  a  detachment  of  cavalry,  set  out  on  the  road  to  Centreville, 
crossing  at  Blackburn's  ford,  and  thus  drawing  the  attention  of 
the  enemy  in  a  false  direction.  Hill  did  not  proceed  beyond 
Centreville,  however.  Having  reached  that  point  he  faced  to 
the  left,  took  the  Warrenton  road,  and  returned,  recrossing 
Bull  Run  at  Stone  bridge,  hotly  pursued  by  General  Pope,  who 
had  gone  after  him  to  Centreville  "  with  Heintzelman  and  Reno 
as  a  body-guard,"  says  General  Fitz  John  Porter,  "  not  knowing 
at  the  time  where  was  the  enemy."  Near  this  point  he  rejoined 
Jackson,  who  had  fallen  back,  with  Ewell's  division,  his  own 
and  the  rest  of  the  cavalry,  and  taken  up  a  position  on  the  battle- 
field of  Manassas  ;  his  left  resting  near  Sudley  ford ;  his  right  at 
a  point  a  little  above  the  small  village  of  Groveton.*  The  crest 
which  he  occupied  was  partly  protected  in  front  by  a  railroad 

*  The  consequences  of  Jackson's  movement  against  the  Federal  rear  are 
vividly  depicted  in  the  despatches  of  their  generals.  On  the  28th  General 
Porter  telegi  iphed  to  General  Burnside :  "All  that  talk  about  bagging  Jackson 
was  bosh.  That  enormous  gap  Manassas  was  left  open,  and  the  enemj 
jumped  through."  On  the  29th  the  same  general  telegraphed :  "It  would 
seem  from  proper  (?)  statements  of  the  enemy  that  he  was  wandering  around 
loose  ;  but  I  expect  they  know  what  they  are  doing,  which  is  more  than  anj 
one  here,  or  anywhere,  knows."  When  a  large  amount  of  ammunition  was 
sent  from  Washington,  he  telegraphed  in  regard  to  it  that  it  "  was  on  the 
road  to  Alexandria,  where  we  are  all  going." 

On  the  1st  of  September  General  McClellan  wrote  :  "  This  week  is  the  crisis 
of  our  fate." 


286  LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

cut — that  of  a  projected  road  branching  from  the  main  Manassas. 
Railroad  near  Gainesville,  and  running  toward  Alexandria. 
Here  he  was  in  a  position  to  repulse  the  enemy  unless  they  ad- 
vanced in  overpowering  force  ;  to  form  a  junction  with  Long- 
street  as  soon  as  he  arrived,  and,  if  hard  pressed,  retire  up  the 
right  bank  of  Bull  Run  toward  Aldie. 

Deceived  by  the  movements  of  A.  P.  Hill  toward  Centre- 
ville,  a  force  of  the  enemy  had  followed  him  in  that  direction, 
and  pursued  hotly  until  his  rear  guard  passed  Stone  bridge. 
This  was  in  the  afternoon.  But  meanwhile  the  cavalry  force  of 
the  two  armies  had  come  into  collision.  General  Stuart  dis- 
posed his  cavalry  so  as  to  cover  Jackson's  front  in  the  direction 
of  Warren  ton  and  Manassas  ;  and  having  intercepted  a  despatch 
from  the  enemy,  directing  cavalry  to  report  to  General  Bayard 
at  Haymarket,  near  Thoroughfare,  Stuart  proceeded  in  that 
direction,  with  his  two  fragments  of  brigades,  to  attack  it,  and 
establish  communication  with  Longstreet,  whose  arrival  was 
looked  for  with  intense  anxiety.  On  the  way,  Stuart  captured 
a  party  of  the  enemy,  and,  having  sent  his  despatch  through  by 
a  trusty  messenger,  engaged  the  enemy's  cavalry,  while  Long- 
street  was  fighting  at  Thoroughfare  Gap.  The  skirmish  was  still 
going  on  when  the  sound  of  artillery  from  Stone  bridge  indicated 
a  battle  there,  and,  quietly  withdrawing  from  the  action,  General 
Stuart  hastened  to  place  his  command  upon  Jackson's  right  flank. 

As  the  cavalry  approached,  the  dust  which  they  raised  in- 
duced the  apprehension  on  General  Stuart's  part  that  his  com- 
mand, coming  as  it  did  from  the  direction  of  the  enemy,  would 
be  taken  for  a  part  of  the  Federal  force.  A  staff  officer  was 
accordingly  despatched  with  the  intelligence  of  his  approach,  and 
Jackson  promptly  informed  that  the  supposed  enemies  were 
friends.  He  was  reconnoitring  at  the  moment  with  General 
Ewell  and  others  in  front  of  his  troops,  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle, 
and  uo  sooner  knew  that  his  flank  was  not  threatened  than, 
pointing  to  the  enemy  in  his  front,  he  said,  briefly :  "  Ewell, 
advance  ! " 

Ewell  immediately  threw  forward  his  own  and  Jackson's 


JACKSON   AT   BAT.  287 

•divisions,  and  attacked  the  enemy,  who  were  seen  advancing 
parallel  with  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  inclining  somewhat  in  the 
direction  of  Manassas.  It  was  now  nearly  sunset,  and  Jackson's 
men  were  almost  worn  down  by  their  heavy  marches  ;  but  the 
enemy  had  exposed  his  flank,  and  the  temptation  to  assail  it  was 
irresistible.  Starke's  brigade  was  deployed  in  front,  as  skir- 
mishers, and  the  batteries  of  Wooding,  Poague,  and  Carpenter 
opened  on  the  enemy  over  the  heads  of  the  skirmishers.  The 
Federal  batteries  promptly  replied,  and  so  tremendous  a  fire  was 
concentrated  upon  the  Confederate  artillery  that  it  was  forced  to 
change  its  position.  The  more  decisive  "  small-arms,"  however, 
were  now  about  to  commence  their  work  in  earnest.  Jackson's 
old  division,  with  the  brigades  of  Lawton  and  Trimble  on  the 
left,  rushed  forward  to  an  orchard  on  the  right,  where  they  made 
.an  impetuous  charge  upon  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy  less  than 
a  hundred  yards  beyond  the  orchard.  A  fierce  and  sanguinary 
conflict  ensued,  the  enemy  being  constantly  reenforced  by  fresh 
troops  ;  but  in  spite  of  this  they  did  not  advance.  They  con- 
tinued, however,  to  receive  Jackson's  attack  with  the  greatest 
obstinacy,  and  sustained  both  the  fire  of  musketry  and  that  of  the 
Stuart  Horse  Artillery,  under  Major  John  Pelham, ,  without 
flinching.  Their  intention,  as  afterwards  appeared,  was  to  pro- 
tect the  flank  of  their  column  until  it  passed  Jackson's  position, 
and  the  troops  to  whom  this  duty  was  assigned  performed  it  well. 
They  stood  the  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  until  nine  o'clock 
at  night,  when  the  whole  Federal  force  fell  back. 

Jackson's  loss  in  this  engagement  was  heavy,  both  in  num- 
bers and  the  personal  worth  of  those  killed  and  wounded.  Gen- 
eral Ewell  had  been  badly  wounded  in  the  knee,  which  caused 
the  loss  of  his  leg ;  and  General  Taliaferro,  commanding  Jack- 
son's division,  was  also  severely  wounded.  The  enemy  had, 
however,  suffered  heavily,  and  had  yielded  the  field,  and  the 
troops  prepared  for  the  more  decisive  conflict  which  the  coming 
day  would  bring. 

The  mild  hours  of  the  August  evening  which  witnessed  this 
•contest  on  the  historic  plains  of  Manassas,  were  marked  also  by 


288  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

a  sharp  engagement  between  Longstreet  and  the  enemy  in  the 
gorge  of  Thoroughfare  Gap.  This  wild  and  romantic  pass  in. 
the  mountains,  with  its  frowning,  fire-clad  battlements  on  either 
side — its  narrow  and  winding  road,  and  its  rugged  walls  rising 
rock  above  rock  to  the  summit,  right  and  left — was  defended  by 
a  considerable  force,  with  powerful  batteries  judiciously  posted 
to  take  the  eastern  debouchment  with  shell  and  canister.  Gen- 
eral Lee,  who  had  pressed  forward  over  the  same  road,  followed 
by  Jackson,  and  reached  the  lofty  hill  upon  the  western  opening 
of  the  pass  late  in  the  afternoon,  determined  not  to  delay  the 
attack.  A  brigade  was  accordingly  sent  forward,  and  rushed 
into  the  gap  in  face  of  a  hot  fire  of  musketry  and  storm  of  shell 
from  the  enemy's  artillery  beyond.  The  conflict  was  kept  up 
with  great  spirit  for  some  time  ;  but  Lee  having  sent  a  force  by 
Hopewell  Gap,  a  little  north  of  Thoroughfare,  to  take  the 
enemy  in  flank  and  rear,  they  hastily  withdrew  their  batteries 
and  left  the  way  open  to  Longstreet,  who  passed  through  about 
nine  o'clock  at  night. 

When  a  courier  brought  to  Jackson  the  intelligence  that 
Longstreet  had  passed  Thoroughfare,  and  was  rapidly  pressing 
forward  to  join  him,  he  drew  a  long  breath  and  uttered  a  sigh 
of  relief.  The  long  agony  was  over — the  great  movement  was 
so  far'a  complete  success.  Longstreet — nay,  Lee  himself — was 
near,  and  all  was  well. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

MANA8SAS:  AUGUST  29,  1862. 

ON  the  morning  of  Friday,  August  29th,  Jackson's  corps 
was  drawn  up  to  receive  the  anticipated  assault  of  the  enemy, 
posted  directly  in  his  front.  His  own  division  was  on  the  right, 
General  Starke  commanding ;  Ewell's,  under  General  Lawton,. 
in  the  centre ;  and  Hill's  upon  the  left.  The  position  was  a 
strong  one.  His  left  rested  near  Sudley  ford,  and  his  right  a 


MANASSAS:  AUGUST  29,  1862.  289 

little  above  the  small  village  of  Groveton,  on  the  Warrenton 
turnpike,  a  portion  of  the  line  being  protected  by  the  deep  cut 
for  the  projected  railroad  already  mentioned.  Thus  posted, 
General  Jackson  was  in  a  condition  to  repel  any  assault,  unless 
it  was  made  in  overpowering  force  ;  and  confident  of  his  ability 
to  hold  his  ground  until  reinforcements  arrived,  he  presented  a 
dauntless  front,  ready  to  accept  battle  at  any  moment. 

The  fatal  error  of  General  Pope  was  his  delay  in  making  this 
attack.  Confusion  seems  to  have  reigned  in  the  Federal  coun- 
sels, and  the  plainest  dictates  of  military  science  were  disregarded. 
It  was  known  that  Lee  was  advancing  with  Longstreet's  corps-  — 
that  great  reserve  whose  blows  were  so  heavy,  and  told  for  so 
much  in  every  contest.  The  route  of  this  corps  was  also  well 
known ;  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  they  would  advance 
through  Thoroughfare  Gap  ;  and  yet  Thoroughfare  Gap,  the  key 
of  the  whole  position,  the  Thermopylae  which  ten  men  could 
have  held  against  a  thousand,  was  inadequately  guarded,  and 
suffered  to  be  cleared.  The  veriest  tyro  in  arms  would  have 
understood  that  all  depended  upon  hurling  the  entire  Federal 
column  upon  Jackson  before  Longstreet  arrived ;  but  General 
Pope  either  did  not  see  the  importance  of  doing  so,  or  was  un- 
able to  accomplish  it.  In  his  defence,  he  presents  an  array  of 
charges  against  General  Porter  and  other  officers,  for  delay, 
inefficiency,  and  even  disloyalty ;  but  the  rejoinders  of  these 
officers  are  fatal  in  the  extreme  to  General  Pope's  character  for 
generalship,  and  the  fact  remains  clearly  proved  that  he  was  out- 
generalled,  as  he  was  out-fought,  by  General  Jackson. 

The  hour  for  the  execution  of  the  movement  referred  to  above 
had  now  passed.  The  golden  moment  upon  which  the  hinges 
of  destiny  turn  had  slipped  away.  That  most  terrible  of  phrases, 
"  too  late,"  applied  in  all  its  force  to  the  movements  of  the  Fed- 
eral army. 

A  cloud  of  dust  from  the  direction  of  Thoroughfare  Gap,  on 

that  eventful  morning,  told  the  tale  of  despair  to  General  Pope, 

of  succor  and  good  hope  to  Jackson.     The  great  corps  which 

had  turned  the  tide  of  victory  upon  so  many  hafd-fought  fields 

19 


290  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

was  steadily  pressing  onward,  and  the  advance  was  now  on  the 
Warrentou  turnpike,  beyond  Gainesville,  not  far  from  Jackson's 
right. 

All  the  morning  General  Longstreet  was  coming  into  posi- 
tion. The  far-seeing  eyes  of  the  great  soldier  who  commanded 
the  Southern  army  had  embraced  at  a  glance  the  whole  situation 
of  things,  and  his  plans  were  formed.  The  design  was  to  en- 
velop the  enemy,'  as  it  were,  and  occupy  a  position  from  which 
he  could  be  struck  in  front,  flank,  and  rear  at  the  same  moment, 
if  he  made  a  single  error  ;  and  this  design  dictated  an  order  of 
battle  not  dissimilar  from  that  which  was  crowned  with  such 
success  on  the  banks  of  the  Chickahominy. 

Jackson  fronted,  as  we  have  said,  obliquely  to  the  Warren- 
ton  road,  his  right  resting  near  Groveton.  When  Longstreet 
arrived,  his  troops  were  steadily  advanced  in  a  line  crossing  the 
Warrenton  road,  his  left  resting  upon  a  range  not  far  from 
Jackson's  right — the  two  lines  forming  an  obtuse  angle,*  and 
resembling  somewhat  an  open  V.  The  village  of  Groveton  was 
in  the  angle  thus  formed,  about  a  mile  distant ;  and  the  fields  in 
its  vicinity  were  completely  commanded  by  heavy  batteries. 
These  were  placed  upon  a  ridge  at  the  angle  mentioned,  where 
Longstreet's  left  and  Jackson's  right  approached  each  other,  and 
were  commanded  by  that  accomplished  soldier  Colonel  Stephen 
D.  Lee,  of  South  Carolina. 

The  advantage  of  this  order  of  battle  is  apparent  at  a  glance. 
If  the  enemy  advanced,  as  it  was  probable  they  would  do,  upon 
Jackson,  to  crush  him  before  Longstreet  was  ready  to  assist 
him,  they  would  expose  their  left  flank  to  the  latter,  and  be 
placed  in  a  most  perilous  position.  If  they  succeeded  in  driving 
General  Jackson  back,  and  followed  up  their  success  by  a  gen- 
eral advance  all  along  the  line,  that  success  would  only  expose 
them  still  more  to  the  heavy  arm  of  Longstreet  ready  to  fall 
upon  their  unprotected  flank.  Their  very  victory  would  be  the 
signal  of  their  ruin.  Triumph  would  insure  destruction.  The 

*  General  Longstreet's  expression  to  the  writer. 


MANASSAS :  AUGUST  29,  1362.  291 

rapidly-closing  sides  of  the  great  V  would  strike  them  in  flank 
and  rear,  huddle  them  together,  and  end  by  crushing  them  with 
its  inexorable  vice-like  pressure. 

Their  only  hope,  in  advancing  upon  Jackson,  was  to  pene- 
trate between  him  and  Longstreet,  thereby  dividing  the  line  of 
battle.  But  Colonel  Lee  was  there,  with  his  batteries  crowning 
the  crest,  and  the  design  was  hopeless. 

Such  was  General  Lee's  order  of  battle.  The  enemy  seemed 
as  yet  unaware  of  it.  They  adhered  to  their  design  of  over- 
whelming Jackson  before  succor  reached  him ;  and  during  the 
whole  forenoon  were  moving  their  troops  to  the  left,  and  massing 
them  in  his  front.  Skirmishing  and  cannonading,  rather  desul- 
tory in  their  character,  and  not  important,  went  on  during  this 
movement  of  the  enemy  ;  but  it  was  not  until  after  two  that  the 
battle  commenced  in  earnest. 

About  that  time  the  enemy  advanced  a  heavy  column,  con- 
sisting in  part,  it  is  said,  of  Banks',  Sigel's,  and  Pope's  divi- 
sions ;  and,  supported  by  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery,  threw  them- 
selves with  great  fury  upon  Jackson's  left,  consisting  of  the 
division  of  A.  P.  Hill.  Their  evident  design  was  to  turn  his 
flank ;  and  in  spite  of  the  destructive  volleys  poured  into  their 
faces,  they  pressed  on,  crossed  the  cut  in  the  railroad  extending 
along  Hill's  front,  and,  penetrating  an  interval  of  about  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  yards,  separated  the  right  of  Gregg's  from 
the  left  of  Thomas'  brigades.  This  success  proved  almost  fatal 
at  the  moment  to  General  Gregg.  He  was  entirely  isolated, 
and  but  for  the  stubborn  stand  made  by  the  14th  South  Carolina 
and  49th  Georgia,  on  Thomas'  left,  would  have  been  cut  off" 
•and  destroyed.  These  regiments  attacked  the  enemy  with  vigor ; 
their  triumphant  advance  was  checked  at  the  instant  when  they 
were  carrying  •  all  before  them ;  and  the  Federal  column  was 
forced  to  retreat  beyond  the  cut  again,  with  heavy  loss.  In  this 
sanguinary  conflict  the  men  fought  almost  breast  to  breast ;  and 
General.  McGowan  reported  that  "  the  opposing  forces  at  one 
time  delivered  their  volleys  into  each  other  at  the  distance  of  ten 
paces." 


292  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

But  the  attempt  to  force  back  Jackson's  left  was  not  aban- 
doned. The  first  assault  was  succeeded  by  another  and  another, 
ever  increasing  in  fury,  and  participated  in  by  the  best  troops  of 
the  Federal  army.  Time  had,  however,  been  given  to  remedy 
the  fatal  defect  in  the  line  of  battle  j  no  opening  was  now  pre- 
sented to  the  enemy ;  and,  wherever  the  attack  was  made,  they 
found  their  assault  promptly  met.  General  Hill  reported  "  six 
separate  and  distinct  assaults  "  which  his  division,  reenforced  by 
Hays'  brigade,  met  and  repulsed.  His  loss  was  heavy.  Gregg's 
brigade  had  all  of  its  field  officers  but  two  either  killed  or  wound- 
ed ;  but  Early's  brigade,  with  the  8th  Louisiana,  came  to  its  as- 
sistance, and  the  battle  raged  more  furiously  than  before. 

Early  found  that  the  enemy  had  obtained  possession  of  the 
railroad  cut  immediately  in  his  front,  from  which  they  were 
pouring  a  galling  fire.  He  lost  no  time  in  attacking,  and  they 
were  driven  from  the  cut,  thence  into  the  woods,  and  pursued 
two  hundred  yards.  As  they  fell  back  before  the  Confederate 
infantry,  they  were  subjected  to  a  heavy  fire  from  the  artillery 
posted  on  the  high  ground  in  rear  ;  and  so  destructive  was  this 
combination  of  cannon  and  small-arms,  that  one  of  the  Federal 
regiments  is  said  to  have  carried  back  but  three  men. 

A  pause  in  the  action  was  soon  succeeded  by  another  assault,, 
this  time  very  generally  directed  all  along  the  line.  The  best 
Federal  troops  took  part  in  this  charge,  which  was  made  with  a 
vigor  indicating  the  importance  attached  to  it.  They  evidently 
spared  no  exertions.  The  Federal  batteries  opened  a  furious 
fire,  and,  under  cover  of  it,  their  infantry  advanced  at  a  double- 
quick,  plainly  resolved  to  break  through  the  line  of  Confederate: 
bayonets,  or  leave  their  dead  bodies  on  the  field.  The  conflict 
which  followed  was  exceedingly  obstinate.  It  continued  for  sev- 
eral hours,  and  Jackson  greatly  exposed  himself  in  encouraging 
the  men  and  holding  his  lines  firm. 

They  retained  their  position  thus,  without  wavering ;  but  the 
strength  of  the  Southern  troops,  so  sorely  tried  in  the  heavy 
marching,  began  to  flag.  Other  causes  conspired  to  render  as- 
sistance necessary.  Heavy  reinforcements  were  being  rapidly 


MANASSA8 :  AUGUST  29,  1862.  293 

pushed  forward  by  the  enemy,  arid  Jackson's  troops  had  shot 
away  all  their  cartridges.  "  We  got  out  of  ammunition,"  writefe 
a  young  soldier  of  A.  P.  Hill's  division  to  his  mother ;  "  we  col- 
lected more  from  cartridge-boxes  of  fallen  friend  and  foe.  That 
gave  out,  and  we  charged  with  never-failing  yell  and  steel.  All 
day  long  they  threw  their  masses  on  us  ;  all  day  they  fell  back 
shattered  and  shrieking.  When  the  sun  went  down,  their  dead 
were  heaped  in  front  of  that  incomplete  railway,  and  we  sighed 
with  relief,  for  Longstreet  could  be  seen  coming  into  position  on 
our  right.  The  crisis  was  over ;  Longstreet  never  failed  yet ; 
but  the  sun  went  down  so  slowly  !  "  Without  ammunition,  the 
men  of  Jackson  seized  whatever  they  could  lay  their  hands  on 
to  use  against  the  enemy.  The  piles  of  stones  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  railroad  cut  were  used — and  it  is  well  established  that  many 
of  the  enemy  were  killed  by  having  their  skulls  broken  with 
fragments  of  rock. 

The  conflict  went  on  in  this  way  all  the  afternoon,  and  was 
obstinate  and  determined.  The  enemy  had  not  succeeded  in 
driving  Jackson  from  his  position  ;  but  his  men  were  beginning 
to  grow  weary  in  the  unequal  struggle  with  an  enemy  who 
threw  against  them  incessantly  heavy  reinforcements  of  fresh 
troops,  arriving  from  the  rear  and  hurried  to  the  front,  to  take 
the  place  of  those  who  had  been  repulsed. 

General  Lee  saw  that  the  moment  had  arrived  for  a  demon- 
stration on  the  enemy's  left,  and  this  was  made  about  nightfall. 
Hood's  division  was  ordered  forward,  and  now  threw  itself 
with  ardor  into  the  contest.  Up  to  that  moment  the  conflict  had 
been  obstinate,  but  the  firing  upon  both  sides  had  perceptibly  de- 
creased in  intensity — the  Federal  troops,  like  their  opponents, 
appearing  fatigued  by  the  persistent  conflict.  It  was  at  this  mo- 
ment that  Hood's  division  advanced ;  and  the  quick  tongues  of 
flame  leaped  from  the  muzzles  of  his  muskets,  lighting  up  the 
gathering  gloom  with  their  crimson  flashes.  These  "  fires  of 
death  "  were  followed  by  the  sharp  crack  of  the  guns,  from  end 
to  end  of  the  great  field  between  the  opposing  lines — and  then 
dusky  figures  were  seen  advancing  rapidly  toward  the  Federal 


294  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

line.  The  next  jets  of  flame  spurted  into  the  darkness  were  neat 
the  edge  of  the  wood  where  the  enemy  were  drawn  up  ;  then,  with 
one  long  roar  of  musketry,  and  a  maze  of  quick  flashes  every- 
where, Hood's  men  rushed  forward  with  wild  cheers,  driving  the 
•enemy  before  them  into  the  depths  of  the  forest.  When  the  deep 
darkness  of  night,  lit  up  now  only  by  a  few  flashes  of  artillery, 
put  an  end  to  the  conflict,  the  Federal  lines  had  been  driven 
more  than  half  a  mile  from  the  position  which  they  had  held  be- 
fore Hood  charged. 

By  order  of  General  Lee  the  troops,  however,  fell  back  to 
their  former  strong  position,  for  the  real  struggle  on  the  next 
day,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night — a  circumstance  which  prob- 
ably induced  General  Pope  to  telegraph  that,  although  he  had 
sustained  a  loss  of  8,000  men,  he  had  driven  back  the  entire 
Southern  army. 

Jackson  had  thus  successfully  maintained  his  ground  against 
the  heavy  pressure  of  the  enemy's  columns,  and  night  and  Long- 
street  had  come. 

His  movement  had  succeeded,  and  he  had  stood  at  bay  after 
securing  all  its  advantages,  with  that  stubborn  and  determined 
front  which  defies  all  attempts  to  break  through  it.  Now  the 
dangerous  moment  had  passed.  Longstreet  was  there  upon  his 
right,  with  his  strong  and  veteran  corps ;  and  Lee  was  by  his 
side  to  take  from  his  shoulders  the  heavy  load  of  anxiety  which 
he  had  borne  unaided. 

The  stern  soul  of  Jackson  the  soldier  must  have  rejoiced 
within  him  when  night  came  and  all  was  well ;  but  the  heart  of 
the  Christian  was  doubtless  heavy,  here  as  elsewhere,  for  the 
blood  about  to  flow. 


THE   SECOND   BATTLE   OF   MANASSAS.  295 

CHAPTER  XV. 

THE    SECOND    BATTLE   OF   MANASSAS. 

SATURDAY,  the  30th  of  August — the  great  day  which  was  to 
terminate  the  long  conflict — dawned  clear  and  beautiful. 

With  the  first  dawn  the  Confederate  troops  were  under  arms, 
and  prepared  for  the  great  contest.  All  of  General  Lee's  forces 
had  arrived,  with  the  exception  of  Anderson's  division,  which 
was  only  a  few  miles  from  the  field,  and  line  of  battle  was  im-. 
mediately  formed. 

The  order  of  battle  remained  unchanged.  Jackson  still 
occupied  his  former  position,  with  his  left  near  Sudley,  his  right 
above  Groveton ;  and  Longstreet's  line,  as  before,  stretched 
away  obliquely,,  the  interval  between  the  two  being  protected  by 
the  eight  batteries  of  Colonel  Lee.  General  Stuart's  cavalry 
was  posted  on  the  right  and  left  wings,  and  batteries  were  so 
disposed  as  to  serve  as  supports  to  the  advancing  columns,  or 
repulse  the  onset  of  the  enemy. 

The  Federal  army  adapted  its  line,  in  some  measure,  to  that 
of  General  Lee.  It  curved  backward  from  its  centre,  following 
the  conformation  of  Lee's  two  wings,  and  is  said  to  have  em-, 
braced  General  Heintzelman  on  the  right,  General  McDowell 
on  the  left,  and  Porter,  Sigel,  and  Reno  in  the  centre.  Their 
batteries  were  disposed  in  a  manner  similar  to  General  Lee's, 
and  their  cavalry  held  well  in  hand  to  take  an  active  part  in  the 
battle. 

It  was  in  this  attitude  that  the  two  armies  remained  in  face 
of  each  other  for  many  hours — neither  advancing  to  the  attack. 
General  Lee's  policy  was  plainly  to  await  the  assault  in  hia 
strong  position  behind  the  railroad,  and  on  the  high  ground  of 
the  Groveton  heights — thus  forcing  the  enemy  either  to  attack 
him,  or  retire  across  Bull  Run,  for  supplies,  pursued  by  the 
Southern  troops.  General  Lee  could  hold  his  position  indefk 


296  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

nitely,  having  uninterrupted  communication  with  his  rear ;  but 
the  Federal  general  was  forced  to  fight  or  retreat — and  the  ob- 
vious policy  was  to  await  his  advance. 

The  strength  of  the  position  was  evidently  appreciated,  and 
persistent  attempts  were  made  to  draw  the  Southern  troops  from 
it.  About  one  o'clock  a  feint  was  made  upon  the  Confederate 
right,  and  a  brisk  encounter  took  place  between  the  advance 
forces  ;  but  the  enemy  were  speedily  driven  back  with  artillery, 
and  the  Confederates  retained  their  position.  Heavy  masses 
then  moved  in  the  direction  of  Lee's  left,  and  General  Jackson 
prepared  for  an  instant  renewal  of  the  fierce  conflict  of  the  pre- 
ceding day.  Several  demonstrations  were  made,  but  the  failure 
here  was  as  marked  as  it  had  been  on  the  right ;  and  the  Fed- 
eral forces  withdrew,  apparently  designing  to  fall  back  in  the 
direction  of  Manassas. 

These  movements,  during  the  whole  forenoon,  and  up  to  four 
in  the  evening,  were  vigilantly  watched  by  Lee.  Though  out- 
wardly calm,  the  latent  fire  of  his  eye  showed  that  the  design 
of  the  enemy  was  fully  understood,  and  that  every  thing  was 
ready  for  the  earnest  work  which  must  speedily  succeed  all  this 
manoeuvring,  these  elaborate  ruses  and  feints.  The  enemy  had 
failed  in  achieving  their  object — to  deceive  the  wary  eyes  of  Lee, 
Jackson,  and  Longstreet — and  they  now  prepared  to  abandon 
their  useless  movements,  and  trust  the  event  of  the  day  to  supe- 
rior numbers  and  stubborn  fighting. 

The  Southern  troops  had  witnessed  the  complicated  evolu* 
tioiis  of  the  enemy  across  the  wide  fields  and  through  the  forest, 
with  little  anxiety.  The  conflict  of  the  preceding  day  had  given 
them  confidence,  and  the  men  lay  down  in  line  of  battle,  laugh- 
ing and  jesting.  Virginians,  Georgians,  Alabamians,  Mississip- 
pians,  Texaus,  Floridians,  Carolinians — all  awaited  the  develop- 
ment of  the  enemy's  designs  with  entire  calmness,  and  a  species 
of  indifference  which  was  very  striking.  They  were  in  this 
careless  mood — some  talking,  others  jesting,  others  again  sleep- 
ing beneath  the  warm  August  sky — when  suddenly  the  roar  of 
thirty  pieces  of  artillery  shook  the  ground,  and  filled  the  air 


THE    8ECOKD   BATTLE    OF    MANASSAS.  297 

with  their  tremendous  reverberations.  Every  man  started  to 
his  feet — and  the  cause  of  the  heavy  cannonade  was  plain. 

The  enemy,  entirely  foiled  in  their  attempt  to  draw  Lee  from 
the  heights,  had  suddenly  advanced  at  a  double-quick,  as  before, 
against  his  centre,  where  Jackson's  right  and  Longstreet's  left 
came  together.  The  attack  was  made  upon  Jackson's  line  first, 
by  a  dense  column  of  infantry,  which  had  been  massed  in  a  strip 
of  woods,  in  close  vicinity  to  Groveton.  Three  heavy  lines  had 
been  formed  for  the  charge,  and  as  the  first  of  these  lines  emerged 
at  a  double-quick  from  the  woods,  they  were  greeted  with  the 
murderous  fire  above  described.  The  fire  was  directed  with 
astonishing  accuracy,  and  the  brigades  which  led  the  charge 
were  almost  annihilated  by  the  shot  and  shell  which  burst  before, 
behind,  above,  to  the  right,  to  the  left — raking  and  tearing  them 
to  pieces.  They  were  swept  away  before  this  horrible  fire  like 
leaves  in  the  wind,  and  disappeared,  broken  and  flying  in  the 
woods — to  be  immediately  succeeded,  however,  by  other  brigades 
charging  as  before.  Again  the  iron  storm  crashed  through 
the  ranks ;  and  again  they  broke  and  retired.  A  third  force, 
heavier  than  before  now  advanced  with  mad  impetuosity,  and,  in 
the  midst  of  the  rapid  fire  of  Lee's  batteries,  threw  themselves 
upon  Jackson,  and  engaged  him  with  desperation.  • 

The  battle  was  now  joined  in  earnest,  and  Jackson  bore  the 
brunt  of  the  attack.  The  force  in  front  of  him  is  said  to  have 
embraced,  among  others,  the  divisions  of  Sykes  and  Morrell, 
both  enjoying  a  high  reputation  for  discipline,  gallantry,  and  efli- 
ciency.  The  onset  of  these  veterans  was  sustained  by  Jackson, 
and  in  some  portions  of  the  field  entirely  repulsed.  Colonel  Lee 
had  meanwhile  opened  a  rapid  fire  of  artillery  from  the  hills 
above.  Moving  his  batteries  more  to  the  left,  he  reached  a  po- 
sition not  more  than  four  hundred  yards  from  the  Federal  line, 
and  poured  a  destructive  fire  over  the  heads  of  the  Confederates. 
"  As  shell  after  shell,"  says  an  eye-witness,  "  burst  in  the  waver- 
ing ranks,  and  round  shot  ploughed  broad  gaps  among  them, 
you  could  distinctly  see,  through  the  rifts  of  smoke,  the  Federal 
soldiers  falling  and  flying  on  every  side.  With  the  dispersion 


298  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

of  the  enemy's  reserve,"  says  the  same  writer,  "  the  whole  mass- 
broke  'and  ran  like  a  flock  of  wild  sheep.  Jackson's  men,  yel- 
ling like  devils,  now  charged  upon  the  scattered  crowd,  but  you 
could  notice  that  they  themselves  had  severely  suffered,  and  were 
but  a  handful  compared  with  the  overwhelming  forces  of  the 
enemy.  The  flags  of  two  or  three  regiments  did  not  appear  to 
be  more  than  fifty  yards  apart.  A  golden  opportunity  was  now 
at  hand  for  Longstreet  to  attack  the  exposed  left  flank  of  the 
enemy  in  front  of  him,  and  he '  accordingly  ordered  the  advance 
of  Hood's  division,  which  moved  obliquely  to  the  right  and  for- 
ward of  the  position  it  had  occupied.  Kemper  next  followed, 
with  the  brigade  of  General  Jenkins  on  the  right  of  that  of 
Pickett,  and  Jones'  division  completed  our  line  of  battle.  The 
brigade  of  Evans  acted  as  a  support  to  Hood. 

"  Not  many  minutes  elapsed  after  the  order  to  attack  before 
the  volleys  of  platoons,  and  finally  the  rolling  reports  of  long 
lines  of  musketry,  indicated  that  the  battle  was  in  full  progress. 
The  whole  army  was  now  in  motion.  The  woods  were  full  of 
troops,  and  the  order  for  the  supports  to  forward  at  a  quick  step 
was  received  with  enthusiastic  cheers  by  the  elated  men.  The 
din  was  almost  deafening.  The  heavy  notes  of  the  artillery  at 
first  deliberate,  but  gradually  increasing  in  rapidity,  mingled 
with  the  sharp  treble  of  the  small-arms,  gave  one  an  idea  of 
some  diabolical  concert  in  which  all  the  furies  of  hell  were  at 
work.  Through  the  woods,  over  gently-rolling  hills,  now  and 
then  through  an  open  field,  we  travel  toward  the  front.  From 
an  elevation  AVC  obtain  a  view  of  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
field.  Hood  and  Kemper  are  now  hard  at  it,  and  as  they  press 
forward,  never  yielding  an  inch,  sometimes  at  a  double-quick, 
you  hear  these  unmistakable  yells  which  tell  of  a  Southern 
charge  or  a  Southern  success. 

"  The  troops  they  encounter  are  the  best  disciplined  in  the 
Federal  army,  and  for  a  little  while  most  obstinately  do  they 
contest  every  inch  of  ground  over  which  we  advance.  Nothing, 
however,  can  withstand  the  impetuosity  of  our  boys.  Every 
line  of  the  enemy  has  been  broken  and  dispersed,  but  rallies 


THE    SECOND   BATTLE   OF   MANASSAS.  299 

again  upon  some  other  positions  behind.  Hood  has  already  ad- 
vanced his  division  nearly  half  a  mile  at  a  double-quick — the 
Texans,  Georgians,  and  Hampton  Legion  loading  and  firing  a? 
they  run,  yelling  all  the  while  like  madmen.  They  have  cap- 
tured one  or  two  batteries  and  various  stands  of  colors,  and  are 
still  pushing  the  enemy  before  them.  Evans,  at  the  head  of  his 
brigade,  is  following  on  the  right,  as  their  support,  and  pouring 
in  his  effective  volleys.  Jenkins  has  come  in  on  the  right  of 
the  Chinn  House,  and,  like  an  avalanche,  sweeps  down  upon 
the  legions  before  him  with  resistless  force.  Still  further  to  the 
right  is  Longstreet's  old  brigade,  composed  of  Virginians,  vet- 
erans of  every  battle-field,  all  of  whom  are  fighting  like  furies. 
The  1st  Virginia,  which  opened  the  ball  at  Bull  Run  on  the  17th 
of  July,  1861,  with  over  six  hundred  men,  now  reduced  to  less 
than  eighty  members,  is  winning  new  laurels ;  but  out  of  the 
little  handful  more  than  a  third  have  already  bit  the  dust. 
Toombs  and  Anderson,  with  the  Georgians,  together  with  Kem- 
per  and  Jenkins,  are  swooping  around  on  the  right,  flanking  the 
Federals,  and  driving  them  tgward  their  centre  and  rear.  Es- 
chelman,  with  his  company  of  the  Washington  artillery,  Major 
Garnett,  with  his  battalion  of  Virginia  batteries,  and  others  of 
our  big  guns,  are  likewise  working  around  upon  the  enemy's 
left,  and  pouring  an  enfilading  fire  into  both  their  infantry  and 
artillery. 

"  We  do  nothing  but  charge  !  charge  ! !  charge  ! ! !  If  the 
enemy  make  a  bold  effort  to  retrieve  the  fortunes  of  the  day 
(and  they  made  many),  and  we  are  repulsed,  it  is  but  for  the 
moment,  and  the  regiments  rallying  upon  their  supports  plunge 
back  again  into  the  tempest  of  fire  that  before  swept  them  down. 

"  Some  of  the  positions  of  the  enemy  were  strong  as  Na- 
ture could  make  them,  and  were  charged  five  or  six  times,  but 
each  time  our  soldiers  were  turned  back  by  sheer  physical  ina- 
bility to  surmount  the  obstacles  before  them.  It  was  then  grand 
to  witness  the  moral  heroism  with  which,  though  their  comrades 
went  down  like  swaths  of  grass  under  the  mower's  scythe,  other 
men  continued  to  step  into  the  path  of  death  with  cheerful  ,alao- 


300  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

rity,  and  still  to  fall  with  the  battle-shout  upon  their  lips,  anc 
the  proud  smile  of  conscious  valor  on  their  faces." 

Gradually  as  the  fierce  struggle  progressed,  the  sides  of  the 
open  V,  which  Lee's  order  of  battle  resembled,  closed  upon  the 
flanks  of  the  enemy.  Colonel  Lee's  artillery  still  continued  to 
play  with  destructive  effect  upon  their  front,  and  the  batteries 
were  regularly  advanced  from  position  to  position,  raking  the 
lines  of  the  enemy  from  every  hillock. 

The  battle  had  now  become  terrific.  The  ruses  and  ma- 
noeuvres of  the  morning  had  long  yielded  to  desperate,  stubborn 
fighting,  and  the  day  depended  not  so  much  upon  any  military 
skill  of  the  generals  as  upon  the  character  of  the  troops  engaged. 
The  Federal  troops  fought  hard,  but  that  "  heart  of  hope"  which 
adds  so  much  to  the  efficiency  of  the  soldier  had  deserted  them, 
and  they  contended  doggedly,  but  without  the  dash  and  fervor 
which  compel  victory.  Gradually  the  Southern  lines  closed  in 
upon  them.  Longstreet's  right  pressed  down  upon  their  left, 
and  Jackson's  column  swung  round  steady,  heavy,  resistless, 
upon  their  right,  huddling  the  disordered  regiments  and  brigades 
upon  their  centre. 

This  was  the  situation  of  affairs  as  the  sun  sank  slowly 
toward  the  west,  and  the  Confederate  leaders  now  concentrated 
all  their  forces  for  a  last  charge,  which  should  carry  every  thing 
before  it.  The  batteries  redoubled  their  exertions,  the  air  was 
hot  and  sulphurous  with  exploding  missiles,  whole  ranks  went 
down  before  the  whirlwind  of  iron,  and  the  continuous  stream- 
ing roar  of  musketry  was  frightful  in  its  intensity.  The  enemy 
continued  to  give  ground  ;  the  Confederate  reserves  were  hurried 
forward  to  the  front,  and  just  as  the  sun  sank  a  general  charge 
was  made  all  along  the  lines.  From  the  dust  and  smoke  of  battle 
there  appeared  all  at  once  before  the  eyes  of  the  disheartened 
Federal  troops  a  rapidly-advancing  line  with  gleaming  bayonets, 
and  this  line  swept  forward  at  a  run.  "  They  came  on,"  says 
the  correspondent  of  a  Northern  journal,  u  like  demons  emerging 
from  the  earth."  There  was  no  pause  or  hesitation.  The  Fed- 
eral volleys  tore  through  the  line,  but  could  not  check  it.  The 


THE    SECOND   BATTLE   OF   MANASSA8.  301 

men  pressed  on  with  deafening  cheers  over  the  dead  and  dying — 
the  ranks  closing  up  where  gaps  were  made ;  and  before  this 
charge  the  last  remnant  of  hope  deserted  the  Federal  troops. 
They  no  longer  came  up  to  the  struggle.  Soon  they  broke  and 
disappeared  in  the  rapidly  gathering  darkness.  The  long  contest 
was  ended  ;  victory  assured.  The  Federal  army  now  thought 
of  nothing  but  its  safety  behind  the  sheltering  heights  of  Centre- 
ville. 

Jackson's  veterans  had  taken  their  full  part  in  this  hard  com- 
bat, and,  sweeping  down  upon  the  wavering  lines,  had  led  the 
charge  which  put  the  enemy  to  final  rout.  The  fighting  of  the 
corps  had  been  excellent.  They  had  sustained  every  assault 
with  great  firmness  ;  repulsed  every  attempt  to  force  them  from 
their  ground  ;  and  then  advancing  in  their  turn,  had  pushed  the 
enemy  from  position  after  position,  and  swept  onward  to  victory. 

"  It  was  a  task  of  almost  superhuman  labor,"  says  the  cor- 
respondent from  whom  we  have  already  quoted,  "  to  drive  the 
enemy  from  those  strong  points,  defended,  as  they  were,  by  the 
best  artillery  and  infantry  in  the  Federal  army ;  but  in  less  than 
four  hours  from  the  commencement  of  the  battle  our  indomitable 
energy  had  accomplished  every  thing.  Our  generals — Lee, 
Longstreet,  Jackson,  Hood,  Kemper,  Evans,  Jones,  Jenkins, 
and  others — all  shared  the  dangers  to  which  they  exposed  their 
men.  How  well  their  colonels  and  subordinate  officers  performed 
their  duty  is  best  testified  by  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded. 

"  The  battle  raged  in  the  manner  described  until  after  dark, 
and  when  it  was  impossible  to  use  fire-arms,  the  heavens  were  lit 
ap  by  the  still  continued  flashes  of  the  artillery,  and  the  meteor 
flight  of  shells  scattering  their  iron  spray.  By  this  time  the 
enemy  had  been  forced  across  Bull  Run,  and  their  dead  covered 
every  acre  from  the  starting  point  of  the  fight  to  the  Stone 
bridge.  Had  we  been  favored  with  another  hour  of  daylight, 
their  rout  would  have  been  as  great  as  that  which  followed  the 
original  battle  of  Manassas.  As  it  was,  they  retreated  in  haste 
and  disorder  to  the  heights  of  Centreville." 

The  part  taken  by  the  cavalry  in  this  celebrated  battle  has 


302  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

not  been  noticed.  General  Stuart  was  indefatigable  in  his  cxer- 
tions  to  guard  the  Confederate  flanks  and  procure  the  earliest  in- 
formation. He  commanded  the  division  of  infantry  which  about 
nightfall  made  the  vigorous  and  successful  attack  upon  the  Fed- 
eral left ;  and  his  cavalry  was  engaged  on  the  flanks  of  the  army 
throughout  the  day.  As  the  enemy  were  giving  way  on  the 
left  an  impetuous  charge  was  made  by  a  body  of  cavalry  under 
Colonel  Munford,  of  the  2d  Virginia,  which  terminated,  after  a 
close  hand-to-hand  conflict,  in  the  complete  rout  of  the  largely 
superior  force  brought  against  him.  This  ended  the  conflict  ia 
that  part  of  the  field,  and  the  enemy  broke  and  retired,  pursued 
by  the  Confederate  artillery  and  cavalry  to  the  banks  of  Bull 
Run,  over  which  their  confused  column  hastened  on  its  way  to 
Centreville. 

Thus  terminated  the  bitter  contest  upon  the  weird  plains, 
already  so  deeply  crimsoned  with  Southern  blood.  Strange 
Providence  which  rolled  the  tide  of  battle  there  again  ! — which 
made  the  huge  wave  break  in  foam  again  upon  the  melancholy 
fields  around  Stone  bridge  !  It  was  a  veritable  repetition  of  the 
fierce  drama  of  July,  1861.  "  Batteries  were  planted  and  cap- 
tured yesterday,"  says  a  writer,  "  where  they  were  planted  and 
captured  last  year.  The  pine  thicket,  where  the  4th  Alabama 
and  8th  Georgia  suffered  so  terribly  in  the  first  battle,  is  now 
strewn  with  the  slain  of  the  invader.  We  charged  through  the 
same  woods  yesterday,  though  from  a  different  point,  where 
Kirby  Smith,  the  Blucher  of  the  day,  entered  the  fight  before." 

Such  was  this  battle — a  hot  conflict  and  a  complete  success. 


OXHILL,    OK   GERMANTOWN.  303 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

OXHILL,    OR    GERMANTOWN. 

THE  bloody  and  memorable  conflict  of  "  the  Second  Manas- 
sas" was  the  splendid  termination  of  a  series  of  manoeuvres 
which  will  always  rank  among  the  most  famous  of  history. 

If  there  were  any  persons  who  still  muttered  "  luck,  mere 
good  fortune,"  in  relation  to  Jackson's  successes,  they  were  now 
forced  to  concede  that  his  triumphs  were  the  result  of  math- 
ematical calculation — of  nerve,  and  a  fertility  of  resources  which 
compelled  the  very  genius  of  necessity  with  her  iron  wedge  to 
yield  to  him. 

What  he  had  accomplished  was  this :  He  had,  by  a  swift 
•and  silent  march,  reached  Thoroughfare  before  the  enemy  sus- 
pected his  advance  ;  passed  through  the  narrow  gorge  without 
resistance ;  repulsed  the  advances  of  General  Pope  at  Bristoe 
Station  ;  captured  and  destroyed  the  large  stores  at  Manassas  ; 
cut  to  pieces  the  force  sent  to  relieve  the  garrison  ;  retired  with 
deliberation  to  the  old  battle-field  of  Manassas ;  repulsed  the 
attack  of  the  Federal  army ;  held  his  position  until  Longstreet 
arrived ;  and  then  falling  upon  the  troops  which  were  almost 
starving  in  consequence  of  his  destruction  of  their  stores,  had 
borne  the  brunt  of  the  encounter  during  a  battle  of  incredible 
fury ;  helped  to  rout  them  in  the  final  and  decisive  charge,  and 
was  now  again  on  their  track  as  they  fell  back  toward  the  de- 
fences of  Centreville. 

Eighteen  pieces  of  artillery,  with  their  caissons  and  equip- 
ments, 6,420  small-arms,  and  countless  prisoners  were  the 
substantial  results  reaped  by  the  corps  of  Jackson. 

But  the  struggle  had  not  terminated.  The  Federal  forces 
were  still  at  Centreville,  and  on  Sunday,  the  31st  of  August, 
Jackson's  corps  was  again  in  motion.  Ordered  by  General  Lee 
to  turn  Centreville,  and  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  Federal  forces, 


304  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

he  crossed  Bull  Run  at  Sudley  ford,  struck  into  the  Little  RiveJ 
turnpike,  and  marching  down  that  road,  bivouacked  on  the  same 
evening  not  far  from  Chantilly.  Here  he  was  joined  on  Monday 
morning,  September  1st,  by  General  Stuart,  who  had  piirsued  the 
enemy  toward  Centreville  with  his  cavalry ;  fought  their  rear 
guard  at  Bull  Run  bridge,  which  they  destroyed  behind  them ; 
and  moved  thence  to  the  Little  River  turnpike,  where,  not  far 
from  Germantown,he  took  position  with  his  artillery  and  opened 
fire  upon  their  trains,  then  rapidly  retreating  from  Centreville. 
Forming  a  junction  with  Jackson,  General  Stuart  disposed  his 
cavalry  in  front  and  on  the  right  flank  of  the  infantry,  and  the 
whole  moved  forward  in  the  direction  of  Oxhill — a  point  on  the 
turnpike  about  three  or  four  miles  above  Fairfax  Court-House. 

The  scene  at  this  moment  was  interesting.  The  men  of  the 
Stonewall  Brigade  and  their  comrades  were  lying  on  the  side 
of  the  road,  hungry  and  exhausted.  They  had  not  seen  their 
wagons  since  they  left  the  Rappahannock,  and  the  rations  secured 
at  Manassas  were  long  since  exhausted.  Green  corn  and  unripe 
apples  had  for  several  days  been  their  sustenance,  and  now  they 
were  in  a  country  which  did  not  afford  even  these.  The  hungry 
men  saw  on  every  side  bleak  fields  and  forests,  with  scarce  a  roof 
visible  in  the  entire  landscape  ;  and  thus  famished  and  worn  outr 
they  were  lying  down  awaiting  the  order  to  advance  and  attack. 
There  was  no  ill-humor  visible ;  on  the  contrary,  jests  and 
laughter  greeted  the  least  object  calculated  to  excite  them.  And 
when  the  leader  who  had  nearly  marched  aod  fought  them  to 
death  rode  by,  they  saluted  him  with  tumultuous  cheers. 

A  step  beyond  his  men  was  Jackson.  The  Federal  forces 
were  then  in  motion  from  Centreville,  and  the  skirmishers  on 
the  right  were  already  engaged.  The  rifles  were  cracking  and 
the  balls  beginning  to  fly,  but  Jackson,  like  many  of  his  men, 
was  asleep.  Seated  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  with  his  chin  upon  his 
breast,  his  cap  drawn  over  his  eyes,  and  his  hands  crossed  on  his 
breast,  as  though  he  had  fallen  asleep  while  praying,  he  slept  a» 
peacefully  as  a  child.  It  was  impossible  not  to  be  struck  with 
the  attitude  of  the  weary  soldier.  It  was  simple  and  unassum- 


OXHILL,    OE   GEKMANTOWN.  305 

ing,  and  so  sweet  a  calm  was  diffused  over  the  features  that  the 
sleeper  seemed  to  be  dreaming  of  home.  He  was  soon  aroused  ; 
duty  called  him,  and  mounting  his  horse,  he  took  the  head  of  his 
column,  and  advanced  to  deliver  battle  on  another  field. 

The  enemy  were  awaiting  him  on  the  range  of  hills  between 
the  "Warrenton  and  Little  River  turnpikes,  with  their  right  near 
Germantown,  their  left  beyond  Mellen's  house — their  object  be- 
ing to  cover  their  retreat  from  Centreville.  Jackson  determined 
to  attack  without  delay,  and  posting  his  artillery  on  an  eminence 
to  the  left  of  the  turnpike,  drew  up  his  command  in  the  woods 
on  the  right — his  own  division  on  the  left  of  his  line,  Ewell's  in 
the  centre,  and  Hill's  on  the  right. 

Oxhill  is  a  ridge  which  extends  obliquely  across  the  turn- 
pike, here  heavily  wooded  on  each  side,  a  mile  or  so  above  Ger- 
mantown. Along  this  ridge  runs  a  road  from  Frying  Pan  past 
Mellen's  house,  to  the  Warrenton  road,  between  Centreville  and 
Fairfax  Court-House.  On  the  crest  of  the  hill,  in  the  turnpike, 
two  pieces  of  artillery  were  stationed,  and  on  the  western  slope, 
in  the  woods  skirting  the  right  of  the  turnpike,  the  Confederate 
infantry  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle.  The  engagement 
opened  with  an  attack  made  by  General  Stuart,  in  front  on  the 
turnpike,  with  a  Blakely  gun,  supported  by  Colonel  Wickham's 
4th  Virginia  cavalry.  Major  John  Pelham — called  by  Jackson, 
in  his  report  of  the  second  Manassas,  "  the  vigilant  Pelham," 
and  who  was  afterwards  to  receive  from  General  Lee  the  supreme 
name  of  "  the  gallant " — commanded  this  gun  in  person,  and 
General  Stuart  superintended  the  firing.  It  was  run  forward 
under  the  crest  of  a  little  hill,  but  had  no  sooner  opened  on  some 
cavalry  in  front  than  a  swarm  of  sharpshooters  rose  from  the 
woods  to  the  right  and  rained  a  storm  of  musket  balls  upon  the 
cannoneers.  The  enemy's  lines  were  about  one  hundred  yards 
distant,  and  as  the  gun  was  without  canister,  it  was,  after  a  few 
shots,  withdrawn.  The  position  of  the  Federal  forces  was  thus 
discovered,  and  the  attack  speedily  commenced. 

The  brigades  of  Branch  and  Fields — Colonel  Brockenbrough 
commanding  the  latter — were  thrown  forward  to  feel  the  Federal 
20 


306  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

position,  and  as  they  advanced  into  action  a  violent  storm  roared 
down,  and  lashed  the  woods  with  a  fury  which  drowned  the  noise 
of  the  guns.  Torrents  of  rain  beat  upon  the  troops,  rendering 
it  almost  impossible  to  keep  their  powder  dry ;  and  the  forest, 
now  shadowy  with  the  approach  of  night,  was  lit  up  by  lightning 
flashes  of  dazzling  brilliance,  succeeded  by  deafening  claps  of 
thunder.  Amid  this  war  of  the  elements,  the  two  brigades  ad- 
vanced upon  the  enemy,  and  engaged  him  in  a  close  and  deter- 
mined struggle.  The  Federal  troops  here  posted  to  repulse  an 
assault  appear  to  have  been  reinforcements  which  had  not  arrived 
in  time  for  the  battle  of  the  30th  of  August,  and  they  were  thus 
perfectly  fresh,  while  the  Confederates  were  greatly  exhausted. 
They  were  led  by  General  Kearney,  General  Stevens,  and  other 
officers  of  experience  and  ability,  and  pressed  the  two  advance 
brigades  of  Jackson  in  such  numbers,  both  in  front  and  flank, 
that  Branch  began  to  exhibit  signs  of  disorder.  Jackson  now 
threw  forward  the  brigades  of  Gregg,  Fender,  and  Thomas,  to 
which  was  added  a  portion  of  Ewell's  division ;  and  "  the  con- 
flict raged  with  great  fury,  the  enemy  obstinately  and  desperately 
contesting  the  ground."  *  All  their  efforts,  however,  were  in 
vain,  and  so  heavy  were  their  losses  that  they  began  to  waver. 
The  loss  of  field  and  general  officers  on  the  part  of  the  enemy 
was  remarkable,  and  probably  disheartened  the  troops,  already 
dispirited  by  the  violence  of  the  attack.  General  Kearney,  mis- 
taking a  Confederate  soldier  in  the  half  darkness  for  one  of  his 
own  men,  inquired  the  position  of  a  Federal  regiment,  but,  dis- 
covering his  mistake,  suddenly  turned  to  gallop  off.  As  he  did 
so,  the  soldier  levelled  his  musket,  fired,  and  Kearney  fell  from 
his  saddle,  mortally  wounded.f  General  Stevens  was  also  killed 
in  the  engagement ;  and  about  dark,  the  Federal  forces  retired 
from  the  field,  which  remained  in  possession  of  Jackson.  J 

*  Jackson's  report. 

f  His  dead  body  was  brought  off  and  sent  under  a  flag  of  truce  next  day 
to  the  enemy. 

\  In  this  action,  when  Jackson  received  a  message  from  one  of  his  Gen- 
erals that  he  would  have  to  fall  back  as  the  men  could  not  get  their  guns 


GENERAL  LEE  ENTERS  MARYLAND.         307 

On  the  next  morning  it  was  discovered  that  the  enemy  had 
withdrawn  from  Jackson's  front,  and  General  Stuart,  pushing 
forward  to  Fairfax  Court-House  about  noon,  reported  that  they 
were  in  full  retreat  toward  Alexandria.  The  inhabitants  of 
Fairfax  welcomed  the  Confederates  with  great  joy,  and  the  cav- 
alry and  Stuart  horse  artillery  continued  to  follow  up  the  Federal 
retreat  for  many  miles. 

Such  had  been  the  unfortunate  termination  of  General  Pope'? 
campaign,  entered  upon  with  such  high  hopes.*  He  had  pro- 
fessed to  have  seen  hitherto  only  "  the  backs  of  his  enemies," 
but  at  Cedar  Run  and  Manassas  saw  them  "  face  to  face."  The 
result  had  been  disastrous  defeat ;  and  from  that  time  forth  the 
Federal  authorities  entrusted  this  officer  with  no  important  com- 
mand. He  was  another  added  to  the  Generals  whom  Jackson 
had  met  and  defeated. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

GENERAL  LEE  ENTERS  MARYLAND. 

THUS  ended  the  great  summer  campaign  by  which  the  Fed- 
eral authorities  hoped  to  break  down  the  military  power  of  the 
South  before  the  forest  leaves  were  touched  by  the  finger  of  au- 
tumn. The  red  battle-flag  of  the  Confederates  floated  where  the 
Federal  standard  had  been  so  lately  seen,  and  new  fields  were 
opened  to  the  Southern  army.  Maryland  was  now  undefended  ; 

to  go  off  on  account  of  the  rain,  Jackson  is  said  to  have  sent  back  the  reply 
that  the  officer  must  hold  his  ground  :  "  If  his  guns  would  not  go  off,  neither 
•would  the  enemy's ! "  This  might  form  a  supplement  to  Shakespeare's  list  of 
retorts,  and  be  styled  the  "  retort  military." 

*  "  Sept.  3.— General  Pope  asked  to  be  relieved  of  his  command,  and  waa 
transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Northwest.  He  drew  up  the  report  of 
his  campaign  in  Virginia,  and  sent  it  to  headquarters  without  waiting  for  the 
reports  of  his  subordinate  Generals.  In  this  document  he  blames  several  of 
the  officers  for  causing  his  defeat." — National  Almanac,  1863. 


308  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

and  the  smoke  of  battle  had  scarcely  lifted  from  the  plains  of 
Manassas,  when  the  victorious  columns  of  Lee  were  in  motion 
toward  the  upper  Potomac. 

Long  before,  Jackson  had  written  to  a  friend,  "  I  am  cor- 
dially with  you  in  favor  of  carrying  the  war  north  of  the  Poto- 
mac," and  we  have  seen  that  to  cross  into  the  enemy's  country — 
to  advance  upon  the  North — was  his  never-ceasing  desire. 

The  signal  of  the  long-wished-for  advance  now  came.  "  On 
to  Maryland  !  "  was  the  watchword,  and  the  veterans  of  Jackson 
moved  forward  at  the  signal,  joyous,  elated,  confident  of  victory, 
and  burning  with  ardor  at  the  thought  that  the  fair  fields  of  Vir- 
ginia, the  homes,  of  their  loved  ones,  would  be  relieved  of  the 
horrors  of  war.  No  time  was  lost  by  General  Lee  in  commenc- 
ing his  movement.  It  was  necessary  to  gain  a  foothold  in 
Maryland  before  the  disorganized  forces  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment were  again  put  in  fighting  condition,  and  the  campaign 
began  with  energy  and  rapidity. 

Jackson  having,  after  his  custom,  inquired  with  great  interest 
what  roads  led  to  the  Potomac,  in  the  direction  of  Arlington 
Heights,  and  ordered  maps  to  be  prepared  of  the  region  for  his 
use,  put  his  troops  in  motion  toward  Leesburg.  Marching  from 
Oxhill,  on  Sept.  3d,  by  way  of  Dranesville,  he  bivouacked  on 
the  4th  at  Big  Spring,  beyond  Leesburg,  and  on  the  5th  the 
passage  of  the  Potomac  was  effected  without  resistance.  The 
scene  is  said  to  have  been  inspiring. 

"  When  our  army  reached  the  middle  of  the  river,  which  they 
were  wading,"  says  an  army  correspondent,  "  General  Jackson 
pulled  off  his  hat,  and  the  splendid  band  of  music  struck  up  the 
inspiring  air  of  '  Maryland,  my  Maryland,'  which  was  re- 
sponded to  and  sung  '  with  the  spirit  and  with  the  understand- 
ing' by  all  who  could  sing ;  and  the  name  of  all  who  could  then 
and  there  sing,  was  legion." 

This  scene  took  place  at  White's  ford,  not  far  from  Leesburg, 
and  on  the  night  of  the  5th  Jackson's  command  bivouacked  near 
the  Three  Springs,  in  Maryland.  Captain  Randolph,  of  the 
Black  Horse,  a  company  of  cavalry  attached  to  the  corps  head 


GENERAL  LEE  ENTERS  MARYLAND.         309' 

quarters,  scouted  through  the  country  on  the  right  to  give  notice 
of  any  movement  of  the  enemy  in  that  direction  ;  and  the  weary 
soldiers  slept  in  peace. 

Jackson  had  thus  obtained  an  undisturbed  foothold  upon  the 
soil  of  Maryland,  and  his  troops  indulged  in  rosy  dreams  of  the 
exciting  scenes  and  novel  triumphs  of  a  march  through  the  rich 
and  unexplored  territory  of  that  enemy  who  had  so  long  laid 
waste  the  fields  of  Virginia.  "  Pennsylvania  !  Pennsylvania  !  " 
was  the  watchword  throughout  the  camps  ;  but  even  the  novel 
and  attractive  scenes  before  them  had  not  been  sufficient  to 
enable  a  large  portion  of  the  troops  to  overcome  the  exhaustion 
of  the  immense  march  from  the  Rappahannock,  together  with 
the  want  of  rest  and  food.  A  large, portion  of  the  command  of 
Jackson,  and  every  other  general,  had  broken  down  in  the  rapid 
advance ;  all  along  the  road  from  Manassas  to  Leesburg  thou- 
sands of  stragglers,  with  weary  frames  and  bleeding  feet,  were 
toiling  slowly  on  in  the  wake  of  the  army,  and  the  southern 
bank  of  the  Potomac  swarmed  with  thousands  of  men  who  had 
sunk  down  to  obtain  that  rest  which  nature  demanded,  and  with- 
out which  they  could  advance  no  further. 

Before  this  great  force  could  rejoin  the  different  corps,  Gen- 
eral Lee  resumed  his  march ;  the  enemy  pressed  forward  on  his 
rear,  the  way  was  barred,  and  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia 
continued  its  march,  and  fought  its  enemies  with  less  than  two- 
thirds  of  its  numbers. 

On  the  6th  of  September  Jackson  reached  the  vicinity  of 
Frederick  City,  and  his  old  division  encamped  in  the  suburbs, 
with  the  exception  of  Jones'  brigade,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Bradley  T.  Johnson,  which  was  posted  in  the  place  as  a  provost 
guard,  with  orders  to  protect  all  property,  and  promptly  to  sup- 
press any  attempt  to  harass  the  inhabitants.  Ewell's  and  Hill's 
divisions  occupied  positions  near  the  railroad  .bridge  over  the 
Monocacy,  to  repulse  any  advance  of  the  enemy  from  the  direc- 
tion of  Washington. 

The  reception  of  the  Confederate  forces  in  Maryland  was  not 
encouraging.  That  ancient  commonwealth,  illustrated  by  so 


310  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

many  great  names,  and  strongly  Southern  throughout  the  larger 
portion  of  its  territory  in  the  habits,  opinions,  and  character  of 
its  population,  was  now  called  upon  to  decide,  by  its  acts, 
whether  the  Southern  proclivities  claimed  for  it  were  only  theo- 
retical, or  such  as  to  spur  its  people  on  to  overt  acts  against  the 
Federal  Government.  The  response  seemed  to  indicate  an 
almost  complete  indifference,  if  not  open  hostility  to  the  Con- 
federate cause  ;  and  instead  of  being  received  with  smiles,  the 
troops  were  looked  upon  with  ill-concealed  dislike.  It  was  not 
until  afterwards  that  the  Confederates  came  to  understand  this 
singular  reception.  They  had  entered  a  portion  of  the  State 
entirely  dissimilar  to  the  lower  counties,  where  the  Southern 
sentiment  was  powerful.  Here  the  Union  feeling  was  in  the 
ascendant,  as  in  Western  Virginia,  and  little  encouragement  met 
the  Southern  arms.  What  would  have  been  the  result  of  an 
advance  into  the  lower  counties,  where  the  planters  were  like 
those  of  Eastern  Virginia,  nearly  unanimous  in  favor  of  the 
South,  we  can  only  conjecture  ;  but  in  Frederick  City  and  above 
that  point  General  Lee  was  met  with  little  enthusiasm,  and  re- 
ceived almost  no  recruits. 

There  were,  however,  many  exceptions  to  this  want  of  cordi- 
ality in  the  demeanor  of  the  people.  One  Marylander  fed  in  a 
single  day  six  hundred  Southern  soldiers  ;  officers  and  men  were 
urged  to  stop  and  use  the  houses  and  all  they  contained  ;  many 
ladies  sewed  day  and  night  on  garments  for  the  ragged  troops  ; 
and  from  the  houses  of  a  few  daring  gentlemen  waved  white 
handkerchiefs  and  the  Confederate  flag.  An  incident  of  the  time 
was  the  presentation  of  a  magnificent  riding  horse  to  General 
Jackson  as  soon  as  he  crossed  the  river,  which,  however,  came 
very  near  resulting  in  his  'death.  Frightened  by  the  martial 
sounds  around  him,  the  animal  reared  violently,  and  nothing  but 
Jackson's  firm  seat  in  the  saddle — for  with  all  his  want  of  grace, 
he  was  an  excellent  rider — saved  him  from  a  heavy  fall. 

The  following  passages  from  the  letter  of  an  army  corre- 
spondent, written  on  the  8th  of  September,  presents  a  picture  of 
Frederick  City  at  the  time,  and,  with  some  allowance  for  the 


GENERAL  LEE  ENTERS  MARYLAND.         311 

obvious  desire  of  the  writer  to  persuade  himself  that  the  recep«- 
tion  of  the  Southern  troops  was  enthusiastic,  may  be  taken  as  a 
truthful  statement  of  the  condition  of  things  at  the  moment : 

"  Frederick  to-day  presents  a  busy  scene,  more  like  that  of  a 
Fourth  of  July  festival  than  a  gathering  of  armed  invaders.  A 
majority  of  the  stores  are  closed  to  general  admission,  because 
of  the  crowds  eager  to  press  and  buy,  but  a  little  diplomacy 
secures  an  entrance  at  the  back  door,  or  past  the  sentinel  wisely 
stationed  to  protect  the  proprietor  from  the  rush  of  anxious  cus- 
tomers. Prices  are  going  up  rapidly.  Every  thing  is  so  cheap, 
that  our  men  frequently  lay  down  a  five  dollar  bill  to  pay  for  a 
three  dollar  article,  and  rush  out  without  waiting  for  the  change. 
The  good  people  here  don't  understand  it.  Bitter  complaints 
are  uttered  against  those  who  refuse  Confederate  money,  and 
it  is  understood  that  the  authorities  will  insist  upon  its  general 
circulation. 

"  The  people  are  beginning  to  recover  from  their  surprise  at 
our  sudden  appearance,  and  to  realize  the  magnitude  of  our 
preparations  to  advance  through  and  relieve  Maryland  from  her 
thraldom.  Some  are  still  moody,  and  evidently  hate  us  heartily, 
but  we  are  more  than  compensated  by  the  warm  welcome  of 
others,  who  now  begin  to  greet  us  from  every  quarter.  Only  a 
few  moments  ago  I  met  a  lady  who  confessed  that  although  she 
had  Confederate  flags  ready  to  expose  in  her  windows  as  we 
passed,  she  was  afraid  to  wave  them,  lest  being  discovered  by 
her  Union  neighbors,  she  should  be  reported  to  the  Federals  in 
case  of  our  retreat,  and  be  thereby  subjected  to  insult  if  not  im- 
prisonment at  their  hands.  To  assure  me  how  true  were  her 
sentiments,  she  introduced  me  to  a  large  room  in  her  house, 
where  there  were  fourteen  ladies,  young  and  old,  busy  as  bees,, 
making  shirts,  drawers,  and  other  clothing  for  the  soldiers. 

"  She  was  also  distributing  money  and  tobacco  to  the  soldiers. 
Judging  probably  from  my  rags  that  I  too  was  in  a  destitute 
condition,  she  benevolently  desired  to  take  me  in  hand  and  re- 
plenish my  entity  throughout;  but  of  course  I  declined,  and 
though  I  could  not  help  smilling  at  the  ingenuous  oddity  of  the- 


'312  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

proposition,  a  tear  at  the  same  time  stole  down  my  cheek  at  the 
thought  of  the  sufferings  which  these  noble-hearted  ladies  must 
have  endured  to  prompt  the  unselfish  generosity  by  which  they 
endeavored  to  express  their  delight  in  our  presence." 

General  Lee  had  given  the  strictest  orders  in  relation  to 
depredations  by  the  troops  ;  and  the  same  writer  adds,  "  though 
thousands  of  soldiers  are  now  roaming  through  the  town,  there 
has  not  been  a  solitary  instance  of  misdemeanor."  A  Mary- 
lander,  Colonel  Johnson,  commanded  the  strong  provost  guard ; 
no  Union  man  was  molested  ;  "  pay  as  you  go,"  was  the  policy 
of  the  Southern  leaders  ;  and  all  kinds  of  property  used  by  the 
troops,  even  the  fence  rails  which  they  burned,  were  carefully 
paid  for.  Never  before  had  the  world  beheld  the  spectacle  of  a 
hostile  army,  in  an  enemy's  territory,  conducting  itself  with  such 
perfect  regard  for  the  rights  of  property  and  the  feelings  of  the 
inhabitants.  The  result  was  soon  evident.  "  Prices  are  going 
up  rapidly,"  says  the  newspaper  correspondent  already  quoted. 
Two  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  "  Rebels,"  they  were  found 
not  to  be  such  terrible  monsters  after  all ;  and  goods  which  at  first 
were  sold  at  "  greenback"  prices,  were  now  held  at  many  hun- 
dreds per  cent,  higher.  Recruits  did  not  appear. 

Meanwhile  General  Lee  had  prepared  his  address  to  the 
people  of  Maryland ;  and  if  any  doubt  remained  of  the  policy 
which  would  be  pursued  by  the  Confederate  commander,  this 
authoritative  statement  of  his  views  and  intentions  set  that  doubt 
at  rest.  The  army  and  the  people  of  the  State  awaited  the 
document  with  intense  interest ;  and  when  it  was  published,  on 
the  8th  of  September,  at  Frederick  City,  it  was  seized  upon  and 
read  with  avidity,  and  had  soon  been  disseminated  and  read 
throughout  the  entire  North.  The  address  was  in  these  words : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMT  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  ^ 
Near  FREDERICK  TOWN,  Sept.  8th,  1862.      ) 
To  the  People  of  Maryland  : 

It  is  right  that  you  should  know  the  purpose  that  has  brought  the  army 
under  my  command  within  the  limits  of  your  State,  so  far  as  that  purpose 
•concerns  yourselves. 

The  people  of  the  Confederate  States  have  long  watched,  with  the  deepesl 


GENERAL  LEE  ENTERS  MARYLAND.         313 

sympathy,  the  wrongs  and  outrages  that  have  been  inflicted  upon  the  citizens 
of  a  commonwealth  allied  to  the  States  of  the  South  by  the  strongest  social, 
political,  and  commercial  ties. 

They  have  seen,  with  profound  indignation,  their  sister  State  deprived  of 
every  right,  and  reduced  to  the  condition  of  a  conquered  province. 

Under  the  pretence  of  supporting  the  Constitution,  but  in  violation  of  its 
most  valuable  provisions,  your  citizens  have  been  arrested  and  imprisoned 
upon  no  charge,  and  contrary  to  all  forms  of  law.  The  faithful  and  manly 
protest  against  this  outrage,  made  by  the  venerable  and  illustrious  Mary- 
landers,  to  whom,  in  better  days,  no  citizen  appealed  for  right  in  vain,  was 
treated  with  scorn  and  contempt.  The  government  of  your  chief  city  has 
been  usurped  by  armed  strangers ;  your  Legislature  has  been  dissolved  by 
the  unlawful  arrest  of  its  members ;  freedom  of  the  press  and  of  speech  have 
been  suppressed ;  words  have  been  declared  offences  by  an  arbitrary  decree 
of  the  Federal  Executive,  and  citizens  ordered  to  be  tried  by  a  military  com 
mission  for  what  they  may  dare  to  speak. 

Believing  that  the  people  of  Maryland  possessed  a  spirit  too  lofty  to  sub- 
mit to  such  a  Government,  the  people  of  the  South  have  long  wished  to  aid 
you  in  throwing  off  this  foreign  yoke,  to  enable  you  again  to  enjoy  the  in- 
alienable rights  of  freemen,  and  restore  independence  and  sovereignty  to  your 
State. 

In  obedience  to  this  wish  our  army  has  come  among  you,  and  is  prepared 
to  assist  you  with  the  power  of  its  arms  in  regaining  the  rights  of  which  you 
have  been  despoiled.  This,  citizens  of  Maryland,  is  our  mission,  so  far  as  you 
are  concerned.  No  constraint  upon  your  free  will  is  intended — no  intimidation 
will  be  allowed.  Within  the  limits  of  this  army  at  least,  Marylanders  shall 
once  more  enjoy  their  ancient  freedom  of  thought  and  speech.  We  know  no 
enemies  among  you,  and  will  protect  all,  of  every  opinion.  It  is  for  you  to 
decide  your  destiny,  freely  and  without  constraint.  This  army  will  respect 
your  choice,  whatever  it  may  be ;  and  while  the  Southern  people  will  rejoice 
to  welcome  you  to  your  natural  position  among  them,  they  will  only  welcome 
you  when  you  come  of  your  own  free  will. 

R.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding. 

The  campaign  in  Maryland  was  thus  undertaken  to  aid  the 
people  of  that  State  in  "  throwing  off  the  foreign  yoke"  which 
had  so  long  weighed  down  their  necks  ;  in  "  regaining  the  rights 
of  which  they  had  been  despoiled  ; "  "  to  enable  them  again  to 
enjoy  the  inalienable  rights  of  freemen,  and  restore  independence 
and  sovereignty  to  the  State." 

No  citizen  would  be  coerced  ;  no  man's  property  taken  from 


314  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

him  ;  if  he  joined  the  Southern  army  he  would  be  welcome,  but 
if  he  remained  at  home  he  would  not  be  molested.  To  each  and 
all  was  accorded  the  right  to  "  decide  his  destiny,  freely  and 
without  restraint." 

Certain  persons  have  put  themselves  to  the  trouble  of  at- 
tempting to  discover  a  profound  ruse  in  this  address.  Such  a 
construction  of  the  grave  and  statesmanlike  paper  is  simply 
absurd.  The  advance  into  Maryland  was  made  for  the  purpose 
stated  by  General  Lee,  and  circumstances  wholly  beyond  his 
control — against  the  force  of  which  he  could  not  contend — dic- 
tated his  subsequent  operations.  What  these  circumstances 
were,  will  be  stated  in  the  ensuing  pages  of  this  work. 

General  Lee  had  thus  advanced  without  resistance  into  the 
enemy's  country,  and  his  eagles  already  began  to  open  their 
broad  wings  for  flight  toward  the  rich  fields  of  Pennsylvania. 
But  one  serious  cause  of  delay  existed,  which  changed  the  whole 
face  of  affairs.  This  was  the  fortress,  as  it  may  appropriately 
be  called,  of  Harper's  Ferry.  At  Harper's  Ferry  a  force  of 
11,000  of  the  enemy,  with  seventy-three  pieces  of  artillery,  re- 
mained, directly  in  his  rear;  and  it  was  necessary  before  pro- 
ceeding to  enter  on  greater  movements  to  gain  possession  of  this 
strong  point  which  they  still  held. 

On  his  ti-ial,  General  McClellan,  in  reply  to  the  question  r 
"  Will  you  give  a  statement  of  the  principal  events  connected 
with  the  Maryland  campaign  ?  "  said  : 

"  When  at  Frederick  we  found  the  original  order  issued  to 
General  D.  H.  Hill  by  direction  of  General  Lee,  which  gave  the 
orders  of  march  for  their  whole  army,  and  developed  their  inten- 
tions. The  substance  of  the  order  was,  that  Jackson  was  to 
move  from  Frederick  by  the  main  Hagerstown  road,  and  leaving 
it  at  some  point  near  Middletown  to  cross  the  Potomac  near 
Sharpsburg,  and  endeavor  to  capture  the  garrison  of  Martins- 
burg,  and  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  garrison  of  Harper's  Ferry 
in  that  direction.  General  McLaws  was  ordered,  with  his  own 
command  and  the  division  of  General  Anderson,  to  move  out  by 
the  same  Hagerstown  road  and  gain  possession  of  the  Maryland 


GENERAL  LEE  ENTERS  MARYLAND.         315 

Heights,  opposite  Harper's  Ferry.  General  Walker,  who  was 
then  apparently  somewhere  near  the  mouth  of  the  Monocacy, 
was  to  move  through  Lovettsville  and  gain  possession  of  Lou- 
doun  Heights,  thus  completing  the  investment  of  Harper's  Ferry. 
General  Longstreet  was  ordered  to  move  to  Hagerstown,  with 
Hill  to  serve  as  a  rear  guard.  *  *  *  *  It  was  directed  in 
the  same  order  that  after  Jackson,  Walker,  McLaws,  etc.,  had 
taken  Harper's  Ferry,  they  were  to  rejoin  the  main  army  at 
Hagerstown  or  Boonsboro'.  That  order  is  important  in  another 
sense.  It  shows  very  plainly  that  the  object  of  the  enemy  was 
to  go  to  Pennsylvania,  or  at  least  to  remain  in  Maryland." 

The  discovery  of  this  order  was  most  unfortunate  for  the  suc- 
cess of  the  campaign.  Prompt  steps  were  taken  by  the  enemy 
to  check  the  advance  of  General  Lee,  relieve  Harper's  Ferry, 
and  defeat  the  projected  invasion  of  Pennsylvania. 

After  the  battle  of  Manassas  great  confusion  is  said  to  have 
reigned  in  the  Federal  councils  at  Washington  ;  and  the  antici- 
pated attack  of  the  Southern  army  upon  the  capital  was  regarded 
with  terror.  General  Pope  was  cast  aside,  and  the  distinguished 
officer  who  had  fallen  under  the  displeasure  of  the  Federal  Ex- 
ecutive, and  been  deprived  of  the  command  of  the  army,  was 
appealed  to  in  this  critical  emergency.  General  McClellan  rose 
to  the  command  of  the  entire  forces  in  and  around  Washington 
without  an  effort  on  his  part ;  and  he  acted  without  consultation 
with  any  one,  and  under  no  orders  but  "  Save  the  Capital."  The 
genius  of  this  skilful  soldier  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  Troops 
were  hurried  forward  from  various  parts  of  the  North  ;  the  rem- 
nants of  the  army  defeated  at  Manassas  were  collected  and  re- 
organized ;  Burnside's  column  was  brought  up  ;  all  the  reserves 
which  had  not  arrived  in  time  to  participate  in  these  great  con- 
tests were  put  in  requisition,  and  another  army,  numbering  about 
1 00,000  men,  was  at  once  ready  to  take  the  field.  Never  had  the 
great  resources  in  men  and  material  of  the  Federal  Government 
been  more  strikingly  displayed ;  and  the  Southern  troops  were 
now  called  upon  to  meet  a  fresh  army.  With  this  great  mass 
of  old  soldiers  and  new,  veterans  and  conscripts^  General  M" 


316  LITE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

Clellan  took  position  in  front  of  Washington  ;  when,  finding  that 
General  Lee  no  longer  threatened  that  city,  and  had  moved 
toward  Pennsylvania,  the  Federal  commander  hurried  forward 
in  the  direction  of  Frederick  City. 

General  McClellan  was  still  completely  ignorant  of  Lee's  de- 
signs, and  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  move  with  caution  so  as 
cover  the  capital.  President  Lincoln  was  evidently  uneasy, 
from  the  apprehension  that  Lee's  advance  into  Maryland  was 
only  a  feint,  with  a  small  force  to  draw  the  Federal  forces 
northward,  when  the  main  column  would,  by  a  rapid  flank 
•movement,  reach  and  assault  Washington.  Hampered  by  con- 
tinual orders  from  the  War  Office,  and  unable  to  penetrate  the 
designs  of  Lee,  General  McClellan  was  compelled  to  advance, 
with  his  left  resting  on  the  Potomac,  in  order  to  defeat  any  flank 
attack  upon  Washington,  and  to  proceed  with  a  caution  which 
was  indispensable  in  dealing  with  so  wary  and  dangerous  an  ad- 
versary. 

Great  must  have  been  the  joy  of  General  McClellan,  there 
fore,  at  finding,  upon  a  table  in  Frederick  City,  the  copy  of  Lee's 
order  of  march  left  there  by  General  D.  H.  Hill.  It  would  be 
difficult  to  over-estimate  the  disastrous  effect  which  this  careless 
ness  on  the  part  of  some  one  had  upon  General  Lee's  campaign. 
General  McClellan  now  no  longer  advanced  cautiously,  and  with 
an  eye  to  the  safety  of  the  capital.  He  knew  all  General  Lee's 
designs,  and  hastened,  without  the  loss  of  a  moment,  to  coun- 
teract them. 

If  that  order  had  not  been  found  at  Frederick  City,  the  re- 
sult of  the  Maryland  campaign  would,  in  all  probability,  have, 
been  wholly  different. 


BOONSBORO'    AND   CRAMPTON's   GAP.  317 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

BOONSBORO'    AND    CRAMPTON'S    GAP. 

GENERAL  LEE  had,  meanwhile,  commenced  his  operations, 
looking  to  the  reduction  of  Harper's  Ferry. 

General  Walker  was  directed  to  recross  the  Potomac  and 
move  up  with  his  brigade  to  Loudoun  Heights,  east  of  Harper's 
Ferry  ;  General  McLaws  was  sent  to  occupy  Maryland  Heights 
.opposite  the  town,  on  the  northern  bank  of  the  Potomac,  to  cut 
off  the  enemy's  retreat  if  they  attempted  to  fall  back  toward 
Frederick  City ;  while  General  Jackson  was  directed  to  march 
straight  across  the  country  to  Williamsport,  take  possession  of 
Martinsburg,  and  intercept  their  retreat  if  they  moved  up  the 
river,  or  demand  the  instant  surrender  of  Harper's  Ferry  and 
its  garrison.  Jackson  could  take  care  of  himself^  but  General 
McLaws  was  liable  to  be  assailed  in  his  rear,  driven  from  Mary- 
land Heights,  and  the  garrison  thus  relieved.  A  strong  force 
was  accordingly  posted  at  South  Mountain,  on  the  main  road 
from  Frederick  City  to  Boonsboro',  under  command  of  General 
D.  H.  Hill,  to  receive  the  attack  of  General  McClellan,  then 
known  to  be  advancing ;  troops  were  also  posted  at  Crampton's 
Gap  and  other  openings  in  the  mountain  lower  down  ;  and  Gen- 
eral Longstreet's  corps  was  held  in  reserve,  to  move  in  any  di- 
rection which  the  emergencies  of  the  occasion  demanded.  The 
cavalry  under  General  Stuart  was  ordered  to  bring  up  and  pro- 
tect the  rear. 

Before  following  Jackson  in  his  swift  advance  to  the  execu- 
tion of  his  portion  of  the  programme,  let  us  relate  the  events 
which  occurred  simultaneously  upon  the  soil  of  Maryland.  We 
shall  thus  be  enabled  to  present  an  uninterrupted  narrative  of 
the  operations  of  Jackson. 

General  McClellan's  advancing  army  first  came  in  collision 
with  General  Stuart's  cavalry  near  Frederick  City  on  the  llth 


318  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

of  September.  General  Stuart's  front  extended  from  New 
Market,  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  to  Poolesville — 
Fitz  Lee  being  on  the  left,  Hampton  in  the  centre,  and  Colonel 
Munford,  commanding  Robertson's  brigade,  on  the  right. 

On  the  12th  the  whole  line  speedily  became  engaged,  and 
opposed  the  advance  of  the  enemy  with  obstinate  valor.  The 
Federal  advance  force  was  repulsed  on  repeated  charges ;  and 
it  was  not  until  the  corps  of  the  army  had  moved  to  their 
assigned  positions,  that  Stuart  slowly  retired,  striking  the  ad- 
vancing enemy  at  every  step  with  his  rear  guard.  General 
Hampton,  bringing  up  the  rear  on  the  road  from  Frederick  City 
to  Middletown,  was  hotly  assailed  by  a  heavy  force  which  had 
rushed  into  Frederick ;  and,  annoyed  by  the  galling  fire  of  the 
Federal  artillery,  supported  by  a  strong  column  of  infantry,  he 
charged  them  with  characteristic  gallantry,  drove  back  their  in- 
fantry with  great  loss,  and  captured  their  artillery,  though,  the 
horses  having  been  shot,  he  could  not  bring  it  off.  The  cavalry 
then  slowly  retired  toward  the  gaps  in  the  mountain,  and  on  the 
next  morning,  September  13th,  Hampton,  who  had  occupied 
the  gap  in  the  Catoctin  Mountain  near  Middletown,  was  vigor- 
ously assailed  by  overpowering  columns.  The  gap  was  obsti- 
nately held  by  his  dismounted  men  and  artillery  until  late  in  the 
day,  when  further  check  of  the  enemy  becoming  unnecessary,  he 
was  ordered  to  withdraw.* 

On  the  14th  the  enemy  appeared  in  front  of  the  various  gaps  in 
the  South  Mountain,  bent  on  breaking  through  and  hastening  to 
the  relief  of  the  garrison  at  Harper's  Ferry,  now  imminently  threat 
ened  by  Jackson.  At  Crampton's  Gap  an  obstinate  stand  was 
made  by  a  small  force  of  dismounted  cavalry  and  infantry  under 
Colonel  Thomas  T.  Munford,  of  the  2d  Virginia  cavalry,  with 
a  few  hundred  men,  and  the  battery  of  Captain  Chew,  which  had 

*  On  approaching  Crampton's  Gap,  General  Hampton's  column  was  mis- 
taken by  Colonel  Munford  for  a  force  of  Federal  cavalry,  and  he  ordered  the 
artillery  to  open  upon  it.  The  guns  were  loaded,  sighted  straight  at  Hamp- 
ton, and  were  about  to  be  discharged,  when  a  white  flag  appeared  at  the  head 
of  ^he  column,  and  this  serious  accident  was  averted. 


BOONSBORO'   AND   CRAMPTON's   GAP.  31  & 

done  excellent  service  in  the  campaign  of  the  Virginia  Valley. 
Colonel  Munford  opposed  the  advance  of  Slocum's  division  of 
the  Federal  army,  and  for  many  hours  prevented  them  from 
passing  the  mountain.  It  was  only  when  his  ammunition  was 
completely  exhausted,  and  the  enemy  were  flanking  him  on  both 
sides,  that  he  retired  through  the  gap,  mounted  his  men,  and 
moved  down  the  mountain.  General  Stuart  having  appeared 
upon  the  field,  drew  up  the  cavalry,  checked  the  retreat  of  the 
infantry  of  General  Cobb's  command,  and  at  night  the  small 
Confederate  force  still  opposed  the  advance  of  the  enemy. 

Meanwhile  a  still  heavier  engagement  had  taken  place  at 
Boonsboro'  Gap,  above.  The  pass  at  Boonsboro'  is  a  defile, 
through  which  runs  the  main  turnpike  from  Federal  City  to 
Hagerstown.  The  road  is  winding,  narrow,  and  rugged — the 
steep  mountain  on  one  side,  on  the  other  a  deep  ravine.  Near 
the  top  are  two  or  three  houses,  but  few  other  objects  break  the 
monotony  of  the  landscape.  The  enemy  appeared  in  front  of 
the  position  occupied  by  General  D.  H.  Hill,  and  immediately 
assailed  him.  A  severe  conflict  ensued,  the  enemy's  numbers 
enabling  him  to  gain  possession  of  the  commanding  ground  on 
Hill's  left,  and  by  overlapping  both  wings  to  press  him  back. 
Couriers  were  immediately  sent  to  General  Lee  announcing  the 
condition  of  affairs,  and  Longstreet  was  hurried  forward  from 
Hagerstown  to  Hill's  assistance.  The  appearance  of  his  corps, 
with  Evans  on  the  left,  Drayton  on  the  right,  and  Hood's  Texans 
in  the  centre,  at  once  changed  the  aspect  of  the  field  ;  the  Federal 
force  who  were  pressing  heavily  upon  Hill  and  driving  him  back, 
were  repulsed  and  held  in  check,  and  the  ground  maintained 
against  the  most  determined  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  force  a  passage. 
In  this  action  General  Reno,  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  was  killed. 

Receiving  information  that  Harper's  Ferry  would  certainly 
fall  on  the  next  morning,  General  Lee  now  determined  to  with- 
draw the  commands  of  Longstreet  and  Hill,  and  retire  toward 
Sharpsburg,  where  his  communications  would  be  uninterrupted, 
and  his  army  could  be  concentrated.  The  trains  were  accord- 
ingly sent  to  that  point,  and  the  army  slowly  retired.  The  dif- 


320  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

ficult  and  dangerous  task  of  bringing  up  the  rear  was  entrusted' 
to  Genera.1  Fitz  Lee,  who  performed  this  important  duty,  as 
afterwards  at  Sharpsburg,  with  a  courage  and  ability  which  ex- 
cited the  admiration  of  the  whole  army.  This  accomplished 
officer  had  distinguished  himself  by  skill  and  daring  upon  many 
fields  ;  but  it  was  left  for  him,  and  his  associate  commanders  of 
the  cavalry  arm,  to  show  the  infantry  on  this  occasion  that  the 
saddle  of  a  cavalryman  is  not  a  bed  of  roses,  and  that  "  dead 
bodies  with  spurs  on  them  "  could  be  discovered,  and  discovered 
in  considerable  numbers. 

The  last  to  leave  the  field,  General  Stuart  with  his  cavalry, 
everywhere  met  and  repulsed  the  enemy's  advance,  the  Confed- 
erate forces  slowly  retired,  and  at  daylight  on  Monday  morning 
the  army  reached  Sharpsburg. 

General  McClellan  hastened  to  pass  through  the  mountains, 
soon  after  dawn  on  the  15th,  and  push  forward  to  the  relief 
of  Harper's  Ferry.  But  he  was  too  late.  The  golden  moment 
had  passed  away,  the  strong  arm  of  Jackson  had  struck. 


CHAPTER  XTX. 
CAPTURE  OF  HARPER'S  FERRY. 

JACKSON  had  performed  the  work  assigned  to  him  with 
rapidity,  accuracy,  and  success. 

Leaving  Frederick  City  on  the  10th,  as  General  McClellan: 
was  pressing  forward,  he  moved  with  great  rapidity  through 
Middletown,  Boonsboro',  and  Williamsport,  recrossed  the  Poto- 
mac into  Virginia,  at  Light's  ford,  and  pressed  forward  to  his 
task.  A.  P.  Hill  was  sent  on  the  main  road  to  Martinsburg, 
Swell's  and  Jackson's  old  division  moved  to  the  North  Moun- 
tain depot  on  the  railroad  about  seven  miles  northwest  of  Mar- 
tinsburg, and  Major  Myers  commanding  the  cavalry  was  de- 
spatched as  far  south  as  the  Berkeley  and  Hampshire  turn- 


CAPTURE  OF  HARPER'S  FERRY.  .  321 

pike.  The  object  of  these  precautions  was  to  prevent  the  escape 
westward  of  General  White,  commanding  the  Federal  force  at 
Martinsburg,  and  they  fully  attained  their  object.  On  the 
night  of  the  llth  General  White  evacuated  the  town,  and  fell 
back  to  the  trap  set  for  him  at  Harper's  Ferry. 

On  the  12th  Jackson  entered  the  town,  capturing  large 
quantities  of  Federal  stores.  On  the  morning  of  the  13th,  at 
about  11  o'clock,  the  head  of  his  column  came  in  view  of  the 
enemy  drawn  upon  Bolivar  Heights. 

We  have  already  presented  a  brief  topographical  sketch  of 
Harper's  Ferry.  It  is  a  small  village  nestling  beneath  an 
almost  perpendicular  hill,  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  junction  of 
the  Potomac  and  the  Shenandoah.  Bolivar  Heights  is  in  rear 
of  the  town,  Maryland  Heights  is  opposite,  on  the  northern 
bank,  and  Loudoun  Heights  is  that  portion  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
across  the  Shenandoah  and  east  of  the  place.  General  Johnston 
had  retired  from  this  position  because  it  was  exposed  to  an  en- 
filade and  reverse  fire  from  the  heights  above  mentioned.  The 
Confederate  forces  now  occupied  these  commanding  positions — 
it  was  the  enemy  who  were  cooped  up  in  Harper's  Ferry — and 
Jackson  prepared  to  try  upon  General  Miles,  commanding  the 
enemy's  force,  the  strategy  which  General  Patterson  no  doubt  in- 
tended to  direct  against  Johnston. 

Jackson  immediately  had  recourse  to  signals— of  which  he 
always  made  great  use — to  ascertain  if  General  McLaws  and 
Walker  were  in  position.  Neither  height  responded  to  his 
flags  ;  and  a  courier  was  sent  to  each  of  the  generals  for  infor- 
mation. Jackson  would  unquestionably  have  stormed  the  place 
that  day,  the  13th,  and  have  been  with  his  entire  command  at 
Crampton  and  Boonsboro'  Gaps  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  battles 
at  those  two  points  on  the  14th  ;  but  to  attack  while  the  enemy 
had  their  way  of  escape  open,  would  not  only  have  failed  to 
obtain  the  main  object  of  the  expedition,  but  more  than  10,000 
fresh  troops  would  have  been  thrown  against  the  weak  Confeder- 
ate lines  at  the  lower  gap  of  South  Mountain.  It  was  not  until 
late  in  the  night  that  the  courier  from  Loudoun  Heights  brought 
21 


322  LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

word  that  General  "Walker  was  in  position.  General  McLaws 
was  also,  at  this  hour,  in  his  allotted  place,  having  attacked  and 
driven  off  the  Federal  force  on  Maryland  Heights. 

The  character  of  the  ground — mountain  and  river — render- 
ing communication  by  courier  exceedingly  difficult  and  tedious, 
resort  was  again  had  to  signals ;  but  even  with  this  assistance 
Jackson  could  not,  in  spite  of  his  utmost  exertions,  convey  to 
Walker  and  McLaws  his  orders  for  the  attack  until  late  in  the 
day.  Time  was  infinitely  precious  now,  for  the  distant  thunder 
of  artillery  from  South  Mountain  indicated  the  engagements 
there,  and  nothing  had  been  done  at  Harper's  Ferry.  Walker 
and  McLaws  signalled  that  Bolivar  Heights,  where  the  enemy 
were  still  posted,  was  out  of  range  of  their  artillery ;  and  Jack- 
son saw  the  necessity  of  forcing  the  Federal  line  back  under  the 
guns  of  his  coadjutors. 

The  order  of  battle  by  which  Jackson  surrounded  the  enemy, 
and  reached  a  position  for  storming  the  place  in  the  morning, 
was  as  follows : 

General  Hill  was  directed  to  move  on  the  right  along  the 
bank  of  the  Shenandoah,  around  the  base  of  the  hill,  and  turning 
the  enemy's  left,  enter  the  town  in  their  rear.  In  this  move- 
ment Ewell's  division  under  General  Lawton  was  to  cooperate. 

One  brigade  of  Jackson's  old  division,  and  a  battery,  under 
General  Jones,  was  to  make  a  demonstration  against  the  enemy's 
right,  while  the  remainder  of  the  division  as  a  reserve  moved  along 
the  turnpike  in  front. 

Major  Massie,  commanding  the  cavalry,  was  directed  to 
draw  up  his  command  on  the  left  of  the  line,  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  escaping  toward  Martinsburg. 

General  Walker  was  on  Loudoun  Heights  to  prevent  their 
escape  over  the  mountain. 

General  McLaws  was  on  Maryland  Heights  to  cut  them  off 
from  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad. 

The  Federal  commander  was  thus  as  completely  environed 
with  watchful  and  dangerous  foes,  as  a  wild  animal  driven  into 
his  hole  by  a  party  of  hunters,  with  all  the  avenues  barred 


CAPTUKE  OF  HAEPEK'S  FEBBY.    *  .   323 

against  his  exit.  Like  a  wolf  in  some  cavern  of  the  mountains, 
he  was  about  to  be  smoked  out,  and  forced  either  to  surrender  or 
die  defending  himself. 

The  movement  commenced  on  the  left,  late  in  the  afternoon, 
the  Stonewall  Brigade,  under  Colonel  Grigsby,  advancing  to 
secure  an  elevated  position  on  the  enemy's  right.  The  Federal 
cavalry  here  stationed  was  promptly  dispersed,  and  the  eminence 
seized  upon.  General  Hill  was  equally  successful  on  the  right, 
next  to  the  Shenandoah.  Moving  obliquely  until  he  struck  the 
river,  he  observed  in  front  of  him  a  commanding  position  occu- 
pied by  Federal  infantry,  but  no  artillery — the  approaches 
having  been  obstructed  by  an  abatis  of  felled  trees.  The 
brigades  of  Fender,  Archer,  and  Brockenbrough  were  directed  to 
storm  the  position,  and  rushing  forward,  Fender  in  advance, 
they  attained  the  crest  of  the  hill,  the  enemy  retreating  almost 
without  resistance. 

In  the  centre  the  line  was  also  pushed  forward  with  energy. 
Ewell's  division,  under  Lawton,  moved  along  the  turnpike  and 
the  fields  which  skirted  it,  in  three  columns,  until  it  reached  Hall- 
town,  when  line  of  battle  was  formed,  and  Lawton  advanced  to 
School  House  Hill ;  his  own  brigade  and  Trimble's  being  on  the 
right  of  the  road,  and  Hay's  and  Early*  s  on  the  left. 

Such  was  the  position  of  the  Confederate  lines  when  night 
descended.  But  the  hours  of  darkness  were  not  suffered  to 
pass  unimproved.  The  brigades  of  Branch  and  Gregg,  with 
Thomas'  as  a  reserve,  moved  along  the  Shenandoah,  and  taking 
advantage  of  the  ravines  of  the  precipitous  banks  of  the  river, 
established  themselves  on  the  plain  to  the  left  and  rear  of  the 
enemy's  works ;  and  all  night  the  Confederate  artillery  was 
moving  into  position.  Jackson  had  a  passion  for  artillery,  as 
we  have  already  stated,  and  on  this  occasion  he  seems  to  have 
posted  his  batteries  with  a  care  which  left  nothing  to  be  desired. 
Colonel  Lindsey  Walker  had  put  in  position  on  the  crest  gained 
by  Fender,  on  the  enemy's  left,  the  batteries  of  Pegram,  Mcln- 
tosh,  Davidson,  Braxton,  and  Crenshaw ;  and  during  the  night 
Colonel  Crutchfield,  Jackson's  chief  of  artillery,  crossed  ten. 


324  LIFE    OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

guns  of  Swell's  division  over  the  Shenandoah  and  established 
them  on  the  right  bank,  on  the  acclivity  of  the  mountain,  so  as 
to  enfilade  the  Federal  position  on  Bolivar  Heights,  and  take  his 
nearest  and  most  formidable  fortifications  in  reverse.  The  other 
batteries  of  EwelPs  division  were  placed  upon  School  House 
Hill ;  Poague  and  Carpenter  were  posted  on  the  left,  opposite  the 
Federal  right,  and  Walker  and  McLaws  were  directed  to  cooperate 
in  the  assault  from  the  heights  on  the  east  and  the  north — Jackson 
signalling  to  them  :  "  I  have  occupied  and  now  hold  the  enemy'a 
first  line  of  intrenchments,  and,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  will 
capture  the  whole  force  early  in  the  morning." 

At  dawn  on  the  15th  of  September,  at  the  moment  when 
General  McClellan  began  to  move  from  Boonsboro'  upon  the  re- 
tiring forces  of  General  Lee,  Jackson  opened  his  artillery  upon 
Harper's  Ferry.  Colonel  Walker,  Hill's  chief  of  artillery,  com- 
menced a  rapid  enfilade  fire  from  all  his  batteries  at  about  one 
thousand  yards,  and  their  thunders  were  echoed  by  the  guns  on 
School  House  Hill  in  front.  Soon  the  batteries  of  Brown,  Gar- 
ber,  Latimer,  and  Dement  across  the  Shenandoah  opened  on  the 
Federal  rear ;  and  Poague  and  Carpenter  answered  from  the 
left,  pouring  a  hot  and  heavy  fire  upon  the  enemy's  right. 
Above  the  heads  of  the  cannoneers  raced  the  shot  ami  chell  of 
Walker  and  McLaws  from  the  Loudoun  and  Maryland  Heights — 
rendering  the  scene  one  of  great  magnificence.  The  Federal  bat- 
teries replied,  and  for  an  hour  kept  up  a  resolute  fire-  At  the  end 
of  that  time  their  fire  slackened,  and  then  seemed  to  be  silenced. 

All  at  once  the  batteries  of  Colonel  Walker  ceaf  ed  their  fire, 
and  the  infantry  prepared  to  storm  their  works,  for  this  was  the 
signal  agreed  upon.  Pender  had  commenced  his  advance  against 
their  left,  when  the  enemy  made  a  last  effort,  and  again  opened. 
The  batteries  of  Pegram  and  Crenshaw  replied  with  a  rapid  and 
destructive  fire,  and  the  infantry  was  about  to  rush  forward  and 
storm  the  positions  of  the  enemy,  when  a  white  flag  fluttered 
from  the  Federal  works,  and  in  the  midst  of  cheers  which  rolled 
aloft  and  were  reechoed  from  the  wooded  mountain,  it  was  an: 
nounced  that  the  Federal  commander  had  surrendered. 


CAPTURE  or  HARPER'S  FERRY.  325 

The  scenes  which  ensued  were  singular,  and  those  who  were 
present  will  long  remember  them.  Jackson  had  been  up  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  night,  and  for  many  preceding  nights  had 
scarcely  slept  an  hour,  although  he  required  more  rest  than  any 
general  in  the  army.  He  was  now  exhausted,  and  had  no  soon- 
er satisfied  himself  that  the  place  had  fallen  than  he  sat  down  on 
the  ground,  leaned  his  elbow  on  a  log,  and  was  asleep  in  a  mo- 
ment. Meanwhile  General  Hill  had  communicated  witb  the- 
Federal  General  White,  who  had  succeeded  to  the  command  in 
conseqiience  of  a  mortal  wound  received  by  Colonel  Miles,- 
and  now  came,  in  company  with  that  officer,  to  arrange  with 
Jackson  the  terms  of  surrender.  The  contrast  between  Gene- 
ral White's  neat  uniform  and  Jackson's  dingy  coat  is  represented- 
as  having  been  very  striking ;  and  the  Confederate  commander 
wore  an  old  hat,  less  imposing  even  than  his  yellow  cap,  of 
which  some  lady  in  Martinsburg  had  robbed  him.  General 
White  probably  regarded  with  some  curiosity  this  singular  speci- 
men of  a  Southern  general,  and  allowed  Hill  to  open  the  inter-- 
view. The  latter  said  to  Jackson : 

"  General,  this  is  General  White,  of  the  United  States  Army." 

Jackson  made  a  courteous  movement,  but  seemed  ready  to 
fall  asleep  again,  when  Hill  added  : 

"  He  has  come  to  arrange  the  terms  of  surrender." 

Jackson  made  no  reply,  and,  looking  under  his  slouch  hat,. 
Hill  found  that  he  was  asleep.  He  was  again  roused,  and  at  last 
raising  his  head  with  difficulty,  said  to  the  Federal  commander: 

"  The  surrender  must  be  unconditional,  General.  Every  in- 
dulgence can  be  granted  afterwards." 

As  he  finished  speaking  Jackson's  head  fell,  and  unable  tot 
contend  against  his  drowsiness  he  again  fell  asleep,  and  the  in- 
terview terminated.  The  terms  of  the  surrender  were  liberal. 
The  officers  and  men  were  paroled,  with  liberty  to  retain  all 
their  personal  effects,  and  the  former  their  side-arms  ;  and  trans- 
portation was  furnished  them  for  their  property.  Upon  these 
terms  11,000  troops  were  surrendered. 

An  amusing  incident  of  the  time  is  thus  related  by  an  officer 


326  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

of  the  Federal  army,  who  met  Jackson  in  the  streets  of  Harper's 
Ferry. 

"  While  we  were  in  conversation,"  said  this  officer,  "  an 
orderly  rode  rapidly  across  the  bridge,  and  said  to  General 
Jackson : 

"  '  I  am  ordered  by  General  McLaws  to  report  to  you  that 
General  McClellan  is  within  six  miles  with  an  immense  army  ! ' 

"  Jackson  took  no  notice  of  the  orderly,  apparently,  and  con- 
tinued his  conversation  ;  but  when  the  orderly  had  turned  away 
Jackson  called  after  him  with  the  question  : 

"  '  Has  General  McClellan  any  baggage  train*or  drove  of 
cattle?' 

"  The  reply  was  that  he  had.  Jackson  remarked  that  '  he 
could  whip  any  army  that  was  followed  by  a  flock  of  cattle ' — al- 
luding to  the  hungry  condition  of  his  men." 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  Federal  troops,  instead  of  re- 
garding their  conqueror  with  a  sentiment  of  hatred,  exhibited 
the  liveliest  admiration  for  him  and  curiosity  to  see  him.  Many 
desired  to  shake  hands  with  him,  and  did  so.  This  feeling  of 
the  Northern  troops  was  displayed  upon  many  occasions.  A 
gentleman  of  Culpepper  was  offered  by  a  Federal  soldier  $500 
in  "  greenbacks  "  for  Jackson's  autograph,  but  refused  it ;  and 
a  Federal  officer  said  to  a  member  of  General  Longstreet's  staff 
whilst  a  prisoner  in  Washington  : 

"  I  believe  if  we  were  to  capture  Stonewall  Jackson,  out 
troops  would  cheer  him  as  he  passed  along." 

Jackson  captured  at  Harper's  Ferry  11,000  prisoners,  in- 
cluding a  brigadier-general ;  13,000  small-arms ;  73  pieces  of 
artillery ;  about  200  wagons,  and  a  large  amount  of  camp  and 
garrison  equipage.  His  loss  was  small. 

The  following  was  his  despatch  announcing  the  surrender  ? 

HEADQUARTERS  VALLEY  DISTRICT,  September  16,  1862. 

COLONEL  :  Yesterday  God  crowned  our  arms  with  another  brilliant  success 
tm  the  surrender,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  of  Brigadier-General  White  and  11,000 
troops,  an  equal  number  of  small-arms,  73  pieces  of  artillery,  and  about  200 
wagons. 

In  addition  to  other  stores,  there  is  a  large  amount  of  camp  and  garrison 


SHARPSBUKG,    OR   ANTTETAM.  327 

equipage.     Our  loss  was  very  small.     The  meritorious  conduct  of  officers  and 
men  will  be  mentioned  in  a  more  extended  report. 

I  am,  Colonel,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  J.  JACKSON,  Major-General. 
Colonel  R.  H.  CHILTON,  A.  A.  General. 

It  has  been  truthfully  declared  that  the  capture  of  Harper's 
Ferry  was  worth  the  entire  campaign  in  Maryland ;  and  the 
results  achieved  induced  the  belief,  above  alluded  to,  that  Gen- 
era!  Lee  had  no  other  end  in  view  when  he  advanced  into  that 
country.  Such  a  supposition  is  exceedingly  absurd ;  but  the 
capture  of  11,000  prisoners,  73  pieces  of  artillery,  13,000  stand 
of  arms,  and  200  wagons,  is  an  amount  of  damage  which  few 
victories  inflict  upon  an  enemy. 

No  good  fortune,  however,  is  entirely  without  alloy ;  and 
the  movement  against  Harper's  Ferry  had  withdrawn  from  Gen-, 
eral  Lee  a  force  at  that  moment  infinitely  precious.  With  Jack- 
son,  McLaws,  and  Walker  detached  from  the  main  body,  he  had 
been  compelled  to  arrest  his  advance  into  Pennsylvania,  and  fall 
back  to  Sharpsburg  to  unite  his  army ;  and  thus,  instead  of  oc- 
cupying the  aggressive  attitude  of  an  invader,  to  stand  on  the 
defensive. 

Jackson  was  now  ordered  to  rejoin  General  Lee  without  de-> 
lay,  and  leaving  General  A.  P.  Hill  at  Harper's  Ferry — to. 
which  Walker  and  McLaws  had  crossed — he  took  his  two  re- 
maining divisions,  and  by  a  severe  night  march  reached  Sharps^ 
burg  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  September. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

SHARPSBUBG,  OR   ANTIETAM. 

THE  battles  of  Boonsboro'  and  Crampton's  Gap  took  place 
on  Sunday,  September  14th;  Harper's  Ferry  surrendered  on 
the  morning  of  the  15th  ;  Tuesday,  the  16th,  was  spent  by  both 
combatants  in  concentrating  their  forces  for  the  great  conflict 
which  was  to  ensue. 


328  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

The  battle  of  Sharpsburg  was  fought  east  and  north  of  the 
town  of  that  name,  in  the  valley  immediately  west  of  South 
Mountain. 

This  valley  is  undulating  and  broken  into  innumerable  emi- 
nences of  every  size,  from  diminutive  knolls  to  steep  and  lofty 
hills.  Many  of  the  depressions  between  these  hills  are  dry,  af 
fording  good  cover  for  infantry,  while  others  are  traversed  by 
Antietam  Creek,  a  deep,  narrow,  and  crooked  water-course, 
which  twists  about  like  a  serpent,  and  has  to  be  *'  crossed  every 
ten  minutes."  Sharpsburg  is  situated  on  the  western  side  of  the 
valley,  and  on  the  eastern  side,  near  the  foot  of  South  Moun- 
tain, are  the  little  villages  of  Peterstown  and  Keedysville.  Nu- 
merous farm-hotises  dot  the  valley  in  every  direction,  some 
standing  out  plainly  on  the  hill  tops,  others  half  hidden  on  the 
slopes,  with  their  ample  barns  and  orchards.  Fields  of  clover 
and  ripe  corn  stretched  on  every  hand,  and  to  the  northward  a 
dense  belt  of  woods  shut  in  the  prospect.  In  this  amphitheatre, 
with  the  hills  rising  in  terraces  around  it,  the  two  great  adver- 
saries, Lee  and  McClellan,  were  now  to  close  in  one  of  those 
desperate  struggles,  which  will  throw  a  glare  so  lurid  on  the  an- 
nals of  this  period. 

An  army  correspondent  writes :  "  Jackson  and  Lawton 
(commanding  Ewell's  division),  always  in  time,  had  come  for- 
ward rapidly  during  the  night,  and  were  in  position  on  our  ex- 
treme left.  "What  a  strange  strength  and  confidence  we  all  felt 
m  the  presence  of  that  man  '  Stonewall '  Jackson  "  ! 

General  Lee's  line  of  battle  was  in  front  of  Sharpsburg, 
wath  Longstreet  on  the  right,  D.  H.  Hill  in  the  centre,  and  Jack- 
son on  the  left — the  cavalry  under  Stuart  being  posted  on  the 
extreme  left  of  the  line.  The  divisions  of  McLaws,  Anderson, 
and  A.  P.  Hill,  and  Walker's  brigade  had  not  arrived  on  the 
night  of  the  16th,  and  Jackson  had  under  him  only  Ewell's  and 
his  own  division. 

The  Federal  line  was  several  miles  in  length,  and  their  forces 
embraced  the  corps  of  Burnside,  Mansfield,  Hooker,  Sumner, 
.Franklin,  Williams  (formerly  that  of  Banks,  Jackson's  old  ad- 


8HARPSBURG.    OR    AXTIETAM.  329 

versary),  and  Sykes'  division  of  Fitz  John  Porter's  corps.  Gen- 
eral Hooker  held  the  right  of  their  line,  one  of  his  divisions 
being  commanded  by  General  Meade,  and  Burnside  the  left. 

~0n  the  evening  of  the  16th  the  opposing  lines  had  already 
come  into  collision,  General  McClellan  having  thrown  Hooker 
across  the  Antietam  on  his  right  for  the  assault  next  morning. 
Jackson's  division  and  General  Hood,  holding  the  left  of  D.  H. 
Hill,  were  attacked,  but  the  enemy's  batteries  were  soon  silenced, 
and,  resting  on  their  arms  in  close  proximity  to  the  Federal  lines, 
the  Southern  troops  snatched  a  brief  sleep  before  the  arduous 
struggle  of  the  coming  day. 

At  dawn  skirmishing  commenced  between  the  advanced 
lines  of  Jackson  and  Hooker,  now  re  enforced  by  the  corps  of 
Mansfield,  and  in  a  short  time  the  Federal  batteries,  so  posted 
on  the  opposite  sides  of  the  Antietam  as  to  enfilade  the  Confed- 
erate line,  opened  a  heavy  and  destructive  fire.  Jackson's  bat- 
teries under  Poague,  Carpenter,  Brockenbrough,  Raine,  Caskie, 
and  Wooding  returned  it  hotly,  and  about  sunrise  the  Federal 
infantry  advanced  in  heavy  force  to  the  edge  of  the  wood,  on  the 
eastern  edge  of  the  turnpike,  driving  in  Jackson's  skirmishers, 
and  opening  upon  his  lines  a  determined  fire  of  shell  and  canister 
from  their  batteries  at  close  range.  This  was  kept  up  for  some 
time,  when  General  Hooker  suddenly  advanced  his  line  and 
threw  his  entire  column  against  Jackson.  The  firing  which  suc- 
ceeded was  heavy  and  incessant.  The  best  troops  of  the  Fed 
eral  army  had  been  concentrated  in  this  portion  of  the  field  to 
turn  the  Confederate  left,  and  the  attempt  was  made  with  des- 
peration. For  more  than  two  hours  the  lines  of  Jackson  sus- 
tained this  almost  overwhelming  assault  without  giving  back, 
and  the  great  mortality  which  resulted  was  sufficient  evidence 
of  the  desperate  character  of  the  struggle.  General  Starke, 
commanding  Jackson's  division,  and  Colonel  Douglas,  command- 
ing Lawton's  brigade,  were  killed  ;  Generals  Jones,  Lawton,  and 
Walker  were  wounded  and  disabled ;  more  than  half  of  the 
brigades  of  Lawton  and  Hays  were  either  killed  or  wounded ; 
more  than  a  third  of  Trimble's,  and  all  the  regimental  com- 


330  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

manders  in  these  brigades  except  two  were  either  killed  or 
wounded.  Meanwhile  column  after  column  of  fresh  troops  were 
thrown  into  action  on  the  Federal  side,  as  their  ranks  were 
swept  back  by  the  galling  fire,  and  thus  for  hour  after  hour,  now 
giving  back,  now  advancing,  the  Southern  lines  held  their  orig- 
inal ground.  The  batteries  of  General  Stuart,  commanded  by 
Major  Pelham,  his  chief  of  artillery,  under  his  direction,  took  a 
leading  part  in  this  hot  struggle  ;  and  so  judiciously  had  these 
guns  been  posted,  as  General  Jackson's  report  will  showj  that 
they  had  a  most  important  bearing  on  the  fortunes  of  the  day. 

Jackson's  line,  a  very  thin  one,  owing  to  the  absence  of  so. 
large  a  portion  of  his  command,  sustained  the  heavy  Federal  fire 
with  great  gallantry,  but  their  ammunition  became  completely 
exhausted  at  last ;  and  Jackson  himself  gave  the  order  for  hia 
line  to  retire  slowly.*  This  movement  was  no^  the  result  of 
panic  or  confusion.  A  writer  in  the  New  York  "  Herald  "  said, 
'•'  The  rebel  forces  fell  back  slowly,  and  in  very  fair  order,  disput- 
ing every  foot  that  they  gave  up  with  the  greatest  obstinacy." 

This  retrograde  inspired  the  enemy  with  new  ardor.  Their 
right  wing  now  rapidly  advanced,  and  soon  threatened  to  envelop 
the  Confederate  left.  It  was  almost  at  right  angles  with  the 
Federal  centre,  and  General  Hooker  continued  to  extend  his 
right  still  further  to  outflank  his  adversary.  Prompt  steps  were 
necessary  to  counteract  this  dangerous  manoeuvre,  and  Jackson 
quickly  moved  his  line  to  the  left  and  rear,  facing  obliquely  to 
the  left  to  meet  this  new  assault.  Into  the  gap  thus  made  upon 
his  right  the  two  small  brigades  of  Texans  under  Hood  threw 
themselves  with  conspicuous  gallantry. 

Seeing  Hood  in  their  path,  the  enemy  paused,  and  a  Northern 
correspondent  writes  :  "  While  our  advance  rather  faltered,  the 

*  "  Want  of  ammunition  "  has  so  often  been  the  excuse  for  bad  fighting 
and  fair  defeat,  that  the  present  writer  dislikes  even  the  phrase.  But  the  defi- 
cient transportation  of  General  Lee's  army,  and  the  absence  of  railroad  con- 
nection with  his  depots  at  Richmond,  were  very  severely  felt  both  at  Sharps- 
burg  and  Gettysburg.  The  Federal  army  was  much  more  fortunate  in  these 
particulars. 


SHAKPSBURG,    OR   ANTIETAM.  331 

rebels,  greatly  reenforced,  made  a  sudden  and  impetuous  onset 
and  drove  our  gallant  fellows  back  over  a  portion  of  the  hard- 
won  field.  What  we  had  won,  however,  was  not  relinquished 
without  a  desperate  struggle,  and  here  up  the  hills  and  down, 
throtigh  the  woods  and  the  standing  corn,  over  the  ploughed  land 
and  the  clover,  the  line  of  fire  swept  to  and  fro  as  one  side  or 
the  other  gained  a  temporary  advantage." 

Hood  was  now  fighting  with  his  right  toward  the  main  line 
of  the  enemy,  for  General  Hooker  had  swept  round  so  far  that, 
as  we  have,  said,  his  line  was  almost  at  right  angles  with  its 
original  position.  Hood  threw  himself  into  the  action  with  great 
gallantry,  and  says,  in  his  report :  "  Here  I  witnessed  the  most 
terrible  clash  of  arms  by  far  that  has  occurred  during  the  war. 
The  two  little  giant  brigades  of  my  command  wrestled  with  the 
mighty  force,  and,  although  they  lost  hundreds  of  their  officers 
and  men,  they  drove  them  from  their  position  and  forced  them 
to  abandon  their  guns  on  our  left,"  One  of  these  brigades  num- 
bered only  854  men. 

Jackson  had  meanwhile  moved  Ewell's  division  toward  the 
Duukard  Church,  and  rapidly  formed  a  new  line  with  a  portion 
of  his  own  division  on  his  right  to  oppose  the  further  advance  of 
the  enemy,  who  had  rushed  forward  and  planted  a  battery  on  the 
turnpike  near  the  edge  of  the  woods. 

Every  thing  now  depended  upon  the  arrival  of  the  forces 
under  General  McLaws.  That  officer  advanced  so  slowly  that 
all  the  fruits  of  the  terrible  struggle  of  Jackson  and  Hood  were 
lost. 

Before  General  McLaws  had  reached  the  field,  General 
Hooker  made  another  and  more  determined  attempt  to  turn  the 
Confederate  left.  The  brunt  of  the  battle  was  evidently  here, 
and  a  most  persistent  effort  was  made  to  break  through  Jackson's 
line,  or  flank  and  drive  it  back  in  confusion  on  the  centre..  The 
hottest  portion  of  this  assault  was  borne  on  the  extreme  left  by 
the  Stonewall  Brigade,  which  received  the  enemy  with  a  deter- 
mined fire,  and  momentarily  checked  them — and  on  the  right, 
Ewell  had  succeeded  in  holding  his  ground.  At  this  crisis  a 


332  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

heavy  Federal  column,  supposed  to  be  General  Sumner's  corps, 
appeared  upon  the  left,  and  Jackson  would  have  been  forced  in  a 
short  time  to  retire,  when  his  own  reinforcements  reached  the 
field.  Semmes'  and  Anderson's  brigades,  with  a  portion  of  the 
divisions  of  Barksdale  and  McLaws,  formed  line  of  battle  as  sooc 
as  they  reached  the  ground  ;  and  soon  the  whole  line,  including 
the  Stonewall  Brigade,  swept  forward  in  a  determined  charge. 
This  charge  drove  the  enemy  back,  compelled  them  to  surrender 
all  the  ground  they  had  gained,  and  pressing  on,  the  Confederate 
troops  forced  them  from  and  beyond  the  woods  for  more  than  a 
mile. 

Jackson  had  thus  entirely  defeated  the  persistent  attempt  to 
turn  his  left,  and  General  McClellan's  report  shows  that  the  re- 
sult of  the  Federal  attack  in  this  part  of  the  field  was  regarded 
by  him  as  decisive  of  the  battle.  Such  was  undoubtedly  the 
fact ;  and  the  repulse  of  the  Federal  lines  was  so  complete  that 
Jackson  speedily  assumed  the  offensive,  and  in  his  turn  advanced 
lo  turn  the  Federal  right.  General  Stuart,  with  his  cavalry,  led 
the  advance  in  this  movement,  but  from  the  nature  of  the  ground, 
Jackson  states,  the  design  was  soon  abandoned.  The  Potomac 
here  makes  a  remarkable  beud,  and  the  narrow  ground  between 
the  river  and  the  enemy's  right  was  so  completely  commanded 
by  their  artillery,  that  Jackson  finally  determined  that  the  move- 
ment was  too  hazardous  to  be  attempted. 

Of  the  fighting  of  the  troops  under  Jackson  and  Hood  on 
this  occasion,  a  Northern  writer  says  : 

"  It  is  beyond  all  wonder  how  men  such  as  the  rebel  troops 
are  can  fight  as  they  do.  That  those  ragged  and  filthy  wretches, 
sick,  hungry,  and  in  all  ways  miserable,  should  prove  such  heroes 
in  fight,  is  past  explanation.  Men  never  fought  better.  There 
was  one  regiment  that  stood  up  before  the  fire  of  two  or  three 
of  our  long  range  batteries  and  of  two  regiments  of  infantry,  and 
though  the  air  around  them  was  vocal  with  the  whistle  of  bullets 
and  the  scream  of  shells,  there  they  stood  and  delivered  their  fire 
in  perfect  order." 

Of  this  great  action  in  other  portions  of  the  field  we  present 


SHARPSBURG,    OR   ANTIETAM.  333 

the  following  animated  description  from  a  Southern  journal, 
which,  if  not  entirely  accurate,  will  at  least  convey  to  the  reader 
something  of  the  emotions  of  an  eye-witness  : 

"  THE  FIGHT  UPON  THE  CENTRE. — Soon  after  the  cessation 
of  the  fight  on  the  left,  the  enemy  made  a  strong  demonstration 
upon  our  centre,  in  front  of  the  division  of  General  D.  H.  Hill. 
Here,  for  awhile,  the  contest  was  carried  on  mainly  by  artillery, 
with  which  both  the  enemy  and  ourselves  were  abundantly  sup- 
plied. The  only  difference  between  the  two,  if  any  at  all,  was  in 
the  superiority  of  their  metal  and  positions,  and  on  our  part  the 
lack  of  sufficient  ammunition.  Battery  after  battery  was  sent  to 
the  rear  exhausted,  and  our  ordnance  wagons,  until  late  in  the 
<lay,  were  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Potomac,  blocked  by  the 
long  commissary  trains  which  had  been  ordered  forward  from 
Martinsburg  and  Shepherdstown  to  relieve  the  necessities  of  the 
army. 

"  As  indicated  in  the  former  part  of  this  letter,  our  artillery 
was  posted  on  the  summits  of  the  line  of  hills  which  ran  from 
right  to  left  in  front  of  the  town.  That  of  the  enemy,  with  one 
exception,  was  on  the  rising  ground  at  the  base  of  the  Blue 
Eidge,  and  upon  the  various  eminences  this  side.  A  single  Fed- 
eral battery  was  boldly  thrown  over  the  Stone  bridge,  on  the 
turnpike,  nine  hundred  or  a  thousand  yards  in  our  front,  and 
held  its  position  until  disabled,  with  a  hardihood  worthy  of  a 
better  cause.  I  cannot  now  name  all  the  positions  of  the  differ- 
ent batteries — only  those  which  I  saw.  Altogether,  we  may 
have  had  playing  at  this  time  one  hundred  guns.  The  enemy 
having  at  least  an  equal  number,  you  may  imagine  what  a  horrid 
concert  filled  the  air,  and  how  unremitting  was  the  hail  of  heavy 
balls  and  shells,  now  tearing  their  way  through  the  trees,  now 
bursting  and  throwing  their  murderous  fragments  on  every  side, 
and  again  burying  themselves  amid  a  cloud  of  dust  in  the  earth, 
always  where  they  were  least  expected. 

"  This  exchange  of  iron  compliments  had  been  kept  up  fron? 
early  morning,  but  at  eleven  o'clock  the  fire  began  to  concentrate 
and  increase  in  severity.  Columns  of  the  enemy  could  be  dis- 


334  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

tinctly  seen  across  the  Antietam  on  the  open  ground  beyond- 
moving  as  if  in  preparation  to  advance.  Others  were  so  far  in 
the  distance  that  you  could  recognize  them  as  troops  only  by  the 
sunlight  that  gleamed  upon  their  arms,  while  considerable  num- 
bers were  within  cannon  shot,  defiantly  flaunting  their  flags  in 
our  faces.  At  twelve  o'clock  the  scene  from  the  apex  of  the 
turnpike  was  truly  magnificent,  and  the  eye  embraced  a  picture 
such  as  falls  to  the  lot  of  few  men  to  look  upon  in  this  age. 

"  From  twenty  different  stand- points  great  volumes  of  smoke 
were  every  instant  leaping  from  the  muzzles  of  angry  guns.  The 
air  was  filled  with  the  white  fantastic  shapes  that  floated  away 
from  bursted  shells.  Men  were  leaping  to  and  fro,  loading,  fir- 
ing, and  handling  the  artillery,  and  now  and  then  a  hearty  yell 
would  reach  the  ear  amid  the  tumult,  that  spoke  of  death  or  dis- 
aster from  some  well-aimed  ball.  Before  us  were  the  enemy. 
A  regiment  or  two  had  crossed  the  river,  and,  running  in  squads 
from  the  woods  along  its  banks,  were  trying  to  form  a  line. 
Suddenly  a  shell  falls  among  them,  and  another  and  another, 
until  the  thousands  scatter  like  a  swarm  of  flies,  and  disappear 
in  the  woods.  A  second  time  the  effort  is  made,  and  there  is  a 
second  failure.  Then  there  is  a  diversion.  The  batteries  of  the 
Federals  open  afresh  ;  their  infantry  try  another  point,  and  finally 
they  succeed  in  effecting  a  lodgment  on  this  side.  Our  troops,, 
under  D.  H.  Hill,  meet  them,  and  a  fierce  battle  ensues  in  the 
centre.  Backward,  forward,  surging  and  swaying  like  a  ship  in 
a  storm,  the  various  columns  are  seen  in  motion.  It  is  a  hot 
place  for  us,  but  is  hotter  still  for  the  enemy.  They  are  directly 
under  our  guns,  and  we  mow  them  down  like  grass.  The  raw 
levies,  sustained  by  the  veterans  behind,  come  up  to  the  work 
well, 'and  fight  for  a  short  time  with  an  excitement  incident  to 
their  novel  experiences  of  a  battle ;  but  soon  a  portion  of  theii 
line  gives  way  in  confusion.  Their  reserves  come  up,  and  en 
deavor  to  retrieve  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  Our  centre,  however, 
stands  firm  as  adamant,  and  they  fall  back.  Pursuit  on  oui 
part  is  useless,  for  if  we  drove  the  enemy  at  all  on  the  othei 
side  of  the  river,  it  would  be  against  the  sides  of  the  mountain. 


SHABP8BUKG,    OK   ANTIETA3I.  335 

where  one  man,  fighting  for  bis  life  and  liberty,  disciplined  or 
undisciplined,  would  be  equal  to  a  dozen. 

"  Meanwhile,  deadly  work  has  been  going  on  among  our  ar- 
tillery. Whatever  they  may  have  made  others  suffer,  nearly  all 
the  companies  have  suffered  severely  themselves.  The  great 
balls  and  shells  of  the  enemy  have  been  thrown  with  wonderful 
accuracy,  and  dead  and  wounded  men,  horses,  and  disabled  cais- 
sons are  visible  in  every  battery.  The  instructions  from  General 
Lee  are  that  there  shall  be  no  more  artillery  duels.  Instead, 
therefore,  of  endeavoring  to  silence  the  enemy's  guns,  Colonel 
Walton  directs  his  artillery  to  receive  the  fire  of  their  antagonists 
quietly,  and  deliver  their  own  against  the  Federal  infantry.  The 
wisdom  of  the  order  is  apparent  at  every  shot,  for  with  the  over- 
whelming numbers  of  the  enemy,  they  might  have  defeated  us  at 
the  outset  but  for  the  powerful  and  well-directed  adjuncts  we  pos- 
sessed in  our  heavy  guns. 

"  Time  and  again  did  the  Federals  perseveringly  press  close 
up  to  our  ranks,  so  near  indeed  that  their  supporting  batteries 
were  obliged  to  cease  firing  lest  they  should  kill  their  own  men ; 
but  just  as  often  were  they  driven  back  by  the  combined  elements 
of  destruction  which  we  brought  to  bear  upon  them.  It  was  an 
hour  when  every  man  was  wanted.  The  sharpshooters  of  the 
enemy  were  picking  off  our  principal  officers' continually,  and  espe- 
cially those  who  made  themselves  conspicuous  in  the  batteries. 
In  this  manner  the  company  of  Captain  Miller,  of  the  Washing- 
ton Artillery,  was  nearly  disabled,  only  two  out  of  his  four  guns 
being  fully  manned.  As  it  occupied  a  position  directly  under  the 
eye  of  General  Longstreet,  and  he  saw  the  valuable  part  it  was 
performing  in  defending  the  centre,  that  officer  dismounted  him- 
self from  his  horse,  and  assisted  by  his  Adjutant-General,  Major 
Sorrel,  Major  Fairfax,  and  General  Drayton,  worked  one  of  the 
guns  until  the  crisis  was  passed.  To  see  a  general  officer  wield- 
ing the  destinies  of  a  great  fight,  with  its  care  and  responsibili- 
ties upon  his  shoulders,  performing  the  duty  of  a  common  soldier, 
in  the  thickest  of  the  conflict,  is  a  picture  worthy  of  the  pencil 
•of  an  artist. 


336  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

"  The  result  of  this  battle,  though  at  one  time  doubtful,  was 
finally  decisive.  The  enemy  were  driven  across  the  river  with 
a  slaughter  that  was  terrible. 

"  There  now  ensued  a  silence  of  two  hours,  broken  only  by 
the  occasional  discharges  of  artillery.  It  was  a  sort  of  breath- 
ing time,  when  the  panting  combatants,  exhausted  by  the  battle, 
stood  silently  eying  each  other,  and  making  ready — the  one  to 
strike,  and  the  other  to  ward  off  another  staggering  blow. 

"  THE  FIGHT  ON  THE  RIGHT. — It  was  now  about  3  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  but  notwithstanding  the  strange  lull  in  the 
storm,  no  one  believed  it  would  not  be  renewed  before  night. 
Intelligence  had  come  from  the  rear  that  General  A.  P.  Hill 
was  advancing  from  Harper's  Ferry  with  tbe  force  which  Jack- 
son had  left  behind,  and  every  eye  was  turned  anxiously  in  that 
direction.  In  a  little  while  we  saw  some  of  his  troops  moving 
cautiously  under  cover  of  the  woods  and  hills  to  the  front,  and 
in  an  hour  more  he  was  in  a  position  on  the  right.  Here  about 
four  o'clock  the  enemy  had  made  another  bold  demonstration. 
Fifteen  thousand  of  their  troops,  in  one  mass,  had  charged  our 
lines,  and  after  vainly  resisting  them,  we  were  slowly  giving 
back  before  superior  numbers. 

"  Our  total  force  here  was  less  than  six  thousand  men  ;  and 
had  it  not  been  for  the  admirably  planted  artillery,  under  com- 
mand of  Major  Garnett,  nothing  until  the  arrival  of  reenforce- 
ments  could  have  prevented  an  irretrievable  defeat.  The  2d 
and  20th  Georgia  have  been  especial  subjects  of  comment,  be- 
cause of  the  splendid  manner  in  which  they  successively  met 
and  defeated  seven  regiments  of  the  enemy,  who  advanced  across 
a  bridge,  and  were  endeavoring  to  secure  a  position  on  this  side 
of  the  river.  They  fought  until  they  were  nearly  cut  to  pieces, 
and  then  retreated  only  because  they  had  fired  their  last  round. 
It  was  at  this  juncture  that  the  immense  Federal  force  crossed 
the  river,  and  made  the  dash  against  our  line  which  well-nigh 
proved  a  success.  The  timely  arrival  of  General  A.  P.  Hill, 
however,  with  fresh  troops,  entirely  changed  the  fortunes  of  the 
day,  and  after  an  obstinate  contest,  which  lasted  from  five  o'clock 


8HAJRPSBCRG,    OE   ANTIETAM.  337 

autil  dark,  the  enemy  were  driven  into  and  across  the  river  with 
great  loss.  During  this  fight  the  Federals  bad  succeeded  in 
flanking  and  capturing  a  battery,  belonging,  as  I  learn,  to  the 
brigade  of  General  Toombs.  Instantly  dismounting  from  his 
horse,  and  placing  himself  at  the  head  of  his  command,  the 
General,  in  his  effective  way,  briefly  told  them  that  the  battery 
must  be  retaken  if  it  cost  the  life  of  every  man  in  his  brigade, 
and  then  ordered  them  to  follow  him.  Follow  him  they  did  into 
what  seemed  the  very  jaws  of  destruction ;  and  after  a  short  but 
fierce  struggle,  they  had  the  satisfaction  of  capturing  the  prize, 
and  restoring  it  to  the  original  possessors." 

The  battle  of  Sbarpsburg  was  perhaps  as  obstinately  dis- 
puted as  any  during  the  entire  war.  The  statements  about  to 
be  laid  before  the  reader  will  show  that  General  McClellan's 
force  was  nearly  three  times  greater  than  General  Lee's,  and 
there  is  no  good  reason  to  doubt  that  if  the  troops  left  on  the 
Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac  had  been  present  opposite  the 
bridge  on-  the  Antietam,  and  General  McLaws  had  arrived  in 
time  upon  the  left,  General  McClellan  would  have  been  so  much 
crippled  as  to  have  been  forced  to  retreat  upon  Washington  with 
the  force  which  he  had.  Jackson  drove  General  Hooker  a  mile 
after  all  the  troops  which  General  McClellan  could  spare  were 
placed  at  Hooker's  command  on  the  right.  With  reinforcements 
it  is  probable  that  Jackson  would  have  routed  his  adversary. 

As  the  day  wore  on  it  is  said  that  General  Burnside  sent 
message  after  message  for  reinforcements.  These  could  not  be 
sent  him ;  and  as  the  sun  was  sinking  General  McClellan  is  said 
to  have  despatched  orders  to  General  Burnside  to  hold  his  posi- 
tion, calling  after  the  courier  : 

"  Tell  him  if  he  cannot  hold  his  ground — then  the  bridge  ! — 
to  the  last  man  ! — always  the  bridge  !  If  the  bridge  is  lost,  all 
is  lost ! " 

The  main  body  of  General  McClellan  was  thrown,  as  we 
have  said,  against  the  Confederate  left,  where  Jackson  was  sta- 
tioned, the  design  of  the  Federal  commander  being  to  force  Gen- 
eral Lee  back  upon  the  river,  and  cut  him  to  pieces  before  he 
22 


338  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

could  cross.  His  views  are  briefly  expressed  in  the  following 
statement  which  he  made  upon  his  trial : 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  16th  a  close  examination  of  the 
ground  was  made,  and  preparations  made  for  the  attack.  The 
plan  decided  upon  was  to  attack  their  left.  The  corps  of  Gen- 
eral Hooker  was  thrown  across  the  Antietam  early  in  the  fore- 
noon of  that  day  (the  16th),  gained  possession  of  the  opposite 
ridge  without  serious  resistance,  and  then  turned  to  its  left, 
moving  along  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  advancing  steadily  until  dark, 
having  encountered  very  sharp  resistance  during  the  latter  part 
of  its  march.  And  during  the  evening  the  corps  of  Mansfield 
was  thrown  over  to  support  Hooker.  Early  OB  the  morning  of  the 
17th  the  corps  of  General  Sumner  was  also  pushed  over  the  An- 
tietam, to  support  the  troops  already  engaged.  Franklin's  corps 
arrived  on  the  ground  from  Rohrersville  in  the  course  of  the 
forenoon.  The  result  of  the  day's  fighting  on  our  right  was 
that  we  gained  a  considerable  portion  of  ground  held  by  the 
enemy  the  night  before,  after  a  very  stubborn  resistance  on  his 
part — the  fortunes  of  the  day  varying  several  times,  but  finally 
resulting  in  our  favor.  It  became  necessary  to  throw  Franklin's 
corps  across  the  Antietam  to  support  our  right  soon  after  it 
reached  the  field  of  battle.  In  the  centre  the  effort  was  confined 
mainly  to  artillery  practice.  On  the  left  Burnside  crossed  the 
river  somewhere  about  noon,  and,  after  severe  fighting,  gained 
possession  of  the  height  which  was  the  object  of  his  attack,  but 
was  finally  obliged  to  yield  it  to  the  attack  of  a  superior  force, 
still  holding  a  position  on  the  further  bank  of  the  stream." 

In  his  report  of  the  battle,  General  McClellan  repeats  his 
statement  that  his  main  assault  was  against  the  Confederate  left, 
and  his  failure  there  decided  all.  The  action  is  generally  spoken 
of  at  the  North  as  a  complete  Federal  victory ;  but  this  does  not 
appear  from  General  McClellan's  statements  on  his  trial,  or  from 
the  established  facts.  "  The  next  morning,"  said  General 
McClellan,  "  I  found  that  our  loss  had  been  so  great,  and  there 
was  so  much  disorganization  in  some  of  the  commands,  that  I 
did  not  consider  it  proper  to  renew  the  attack  that  day." 


8HAKPSBURG,   OE   ANTTETAM.  339 

This  was  on  the  18th,  and  during  the  whole  of  that  day 
General  Lee  remained,  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  to  resume  the 
conflict  if  the  enemy  advanced.  His  army  had  suffered  serious 
loss,  however,  especially  in  valuable  officers ;  reinforcements 
were  constantly  reaching  the  Federal  commander  ;  and  General 
Lee's  communications  with  the  southern  bank  of  the  Potomac 
were  by  a  single  road  so  narrow  and  rugged  that  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  supply  the  army  with  the  commissary  and  ord- 
nance stores  necessary  to  a  further  occupation  of  the  ground  on 
the  northern  bank.  General  Lee  accordingly  determined  to  re- 
cross  the  Potomac,  to  await  at  his  leisure  the  additions  to  his 
force  which  were  expected,  and  to  subsist  and  ammunition  his 
forces. 

This  movement  was  accomplished  on  the  night  of  the  18th 
without  molestation,  all  the  trains,  artillery,  and  stores  of  every 
description  having  been  sent  on  before. 

General  Stuart  brought  up  the  rear  with  his  cavalry ;  the 
last  pickets  were  withdrawn,  and  by  the  morning  of  the  19th 
General  Lee  had  taken  up  a  strong  position  on  the  southern 
bank  of  the  Potomac,  ready  to  meet  the  Federal  forces  if  they 
attempted  to  cross. 

The  conditions  under  which  General  Lee  fought  the  battle 
of  Sharpsburg  were  peculiar,  and  the  disproportion  of  force 
great.  An  accurate  statement  of  facts  in  reference  to  these 
points  is  necessary  to  a  right  understanding  of  the  affair.  It  is 
easy  to  write  a  partisan  pamphlet  and  label  »t  "history" — to 
represent  the  defeated  forces  as  "  overwhelmed  by  numbers," 
and  the  enemy's  loss  "  much  larger,"  "  very  nearly  double,"  or 
"  frightful,"  without  investigating  the  facts.  Such  a  narrative 
may  flatter  partisan  feelings,  but  it  is  not  history.  The  proceed 
ing  in  question  appears  puerile  to  the  present  writer,  who  here 
as  elsewhere  has  made  an  honest  effort  to  arrive  at  the  truth  of 
history. 

It  is  not  difficult  to  establish  the  statement,  that  at  Sharps 
burg  General  Lee  fought  a  force  about  three  times  greater  thai 


340  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

his  own.  When  General  McClellan  was  before  the  Committee 
of  Investigation,  to  examine  into  the  circumstances  attending 
this  action,  he  was  asked,  "  What  was  your  force  at  Antie- 
tam?"  to  which  he  replied,  "I  think  that  before  these  two 
divisions  I  alluded  to  came  up,  our  force  was  about  90,000  men — 
not  far  from  that ;  it  may  have  been  93,000  or  94,000."  When 
asked,  "At  what  number  did  you  estimate  the  force  of  the 
enemy?"  his  reply  was,  "  I  think  our  estimate  at  the  time,  and 
which  was  pretty  well  borne  out  by  what  occurred,  was,  that  we 
fought  pretty  close  upon  100,000  men." 

In  his  "  Report  of  the  Operations  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac," General  McClellan  is  more  explicit,  and  says  :  "  Our  forces 
at  the  battle  of  Antietam  were  as  follows : 

Number  of  Men. 

First  Corps, 14,866 

Second  Corps, 18,818 

Fifth  Corps  (one  division  not  arrived),         .        .        .  12,930 

Sixth  Corps, 12,300 

Ninth  Corps, 13,819 

Twelfth  Corps, 10,126 

Cavalry  Division, 4,320 


Total  in  action, 87,164 

General  Lee's  force  he  then  estimated,  from  the  reports  of 
"prisoners,  deserters,  spies,  etc.,"  at  97,445  men;  and  this  he 
declares  "  gives  the  actual  number  of  men  present  and  fit  for 
duty  "  in  Generjfl  Lee's  army. 

It  will  no  doubt  surprise  General  McClellan  when  he  ascer- 
tains the  fact  that  General  Lee  had  at  Sharpsburg,  all  told,  only 
33,000  troops,  and  that  the  brunt  of  the  fight  was  sustained  by 
about  25,000,  the  others  not  having  then  come  up.  This  fact 
was  long  ago  known  to  the  present  writer,  from  General  Lee's 
statement  to  General  Stuart,  that  his  force  at  Sharpsburg  "  did 
not  exceed  in  all  35,000  ;  "  but  General  Lee's  official  report  has 
since  been  published,  and  the  exact  numbers  are  given — 33,000. 
The  explanation  of  this  paucity  of  numbers  will  be  found  in  the 


SHARP8BUEG,    OR    ANTIETAM.  341 

bad  equipment  of  the  Southern  forces,  the  very  defective  com- 
missariat, and  the  exhausting  character  of  the  movements  which 
preceded  the  battle.  In  about  three  weeks  the  Southern  army 
had  marched  from  the  Rapidan  via  Manassas  and  Frederick 
City  to  Sharpsburg.  During  this  time  they  were  almost  wholly 
without  rations,  and  so  badly  clad  that  they  excited  the  pity  and 
astonishment  even  of  their  enemies,  who  spoke  of  them  as 
'•  ragged,  hungry,  and  in  all  ways  miserable."  They  had  fought 
almost  daily  battles,  and  lost  heavily  ;  thousands  had  lagged  be- 
hind from  pure  inability  to  proceed ;  and  this  was  the  explana- 
tion of  General  Lee's  small  number.  Between  the  Rapidan  and 
the  Potomac  it  has  been  estimated  that  more  than  20,000  gave' 
out  on  the  march,  or  were  killed  or  disabled  in  battle.  All  the 
roads  of  Northern  Virginia  were  lined  with  soldiers  compre- 
hensively denominated  "  stragglers  ; "  but  the  great  majority  of 
these  men  had  fallen  out  of  the  advancing  columu  from  physical 
inability  to  keep  up  with  it.  Only  a  small  portion,  we  believe,, 
were  "  skulkers,"  for  the  troops  were  greatly  elated  at  the  idea 
of  transferring  hostilities  to  Pennsylvania  ;  thousands  were  not 
with  General  Lee  because  they  had  no  shoes,  and  their  bleeding 
feet  would  carry  them  no  further  ;  or  the  heavy  march  without 
rations  had  broken  them  down.  This  great  crowd  toiled  on  pain- 
fully in  the  wake  of  the  army,  dragging  themselves  five  or  six 
miles  a  day ;  and  when  they  came  to  the  Potomac,  near  Lees- 
burg,  it  was  only  to  'find  that  General  Lee  had  swept  on,  that 
General  McClellan's  column  was  between  them  and  him,  and 
that  they  could  not  rejoin  their  commands.  The  citizens  of  that 
whole  region,  who  fed  these  unfortunate  persons,  will  bear  testi- 
mony that  numbers  sufficient  to  constitute  an  army  in  themselves, 
passed  the  Blue  Ridge  to  rendezvous,  by  General  Lee's  orders, 
at  Winchester.  These  20,000  or  30,000  men  were  not  in  the 
battle.  Longstreet's  corps  of  26,000  men  had  dwindled  to, 
13,000,  just  one-half.  Jackson's  was  not  quite  so  bad,  but  was- 
greatly  reduced.  Nor  was  the  bulk  of  the  latter  corps  present 
until  after  four  p.  M.,  toward  the  end  of  the  action.  General 
Lee  fought  until  late  in  the  day,  with  Longstreet,  D.  H.  Hill, 


842  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

Ewell,  and  two  other  divisions,  a  force  of  about  25,000  men. 
The  reenforcenients  from  McLaws,  Anderson,  and  Hill  increased 
this  number  to  33,000,  with  which  force  General  Lee  met  the 
87,164  men  reported  by  General  McClellan  as  "in  action "  on 
the  Federal  side.  Sharpsburg  may  fairly  be  called  a  drawn  battle, 
and  this  result  was  highly  honorable  to  the  Southern  arms. 

In  the  movements  which  preceded  the  battle,  General  Mc- 
Clellan had  again  exhibited  that  skill  and  soldiership  which 
saved  the  Federal  army  on  the  Chickahominy.  He  had  promptly 
organized,  from  the  remnants  of  General  Pope's  defeated  battal- 
ions, and  the  new  levies  hurried  forward,  an  army  ready  to  take 
the  field  ;  and  nothing  but  his  great  personal  popularity  and  the 
confidence  reposed  in  his  military  judgment  by  the  troops,  could 
have  achieved  a  result  so  important.  With  this  force  he  had 
advanced  from  Washington,  and  throughout  the  march  his  move- 
ments had  been  bold  and  judicious.  His  objects  were  to  relieve 
Harper's  Ferry  and  arrest  Lee's  advance.  With  these  ends  in 
view  he  pushed  Franklin's  corps  toward  Crampton's  Gap,  on 
the  straight  road  to  Harper's  Ferry,  and  moved  with  his  main 
body  toward  Hagerstown,  which  the  head  of  Lee's  column  had 
reached. 

But  for  the  rapidity  of  Jackson's  march,  and  the  energy  of 
his  attack  upon  General  Miles,  McClellan  would  have  succeeded 
in  his  attempt  to  save  the  garrison.  On  the  night  of  the  14th 
he  had  concentrated  at  South  Mountain  an  overwhelming  force, 
and  on  the  15th  would  have  swooped  down  on  Harper's  Ferry. 
But  on  that  fatal  loth  the  place  surrendered,  and  so  much  of  the 
Federal  general's  programme  was  defeated.  The  other  half, 
however,  was  successful.  Lee's  further  advance  was  checked ; 
his  forces  were  moved  back  and  concentrated  at  Sharpsburg ; 
and  as  the  sun  went  down  on  the  evening  of  the  16th  of  Septem- 
ber, his  great  army  confronted  Lee  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the 
Antietam.  What  followed  is  known. 


8HEPHERDSTOWN. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

SHEPHERDSTOWN. 

THE  roll  of  great  events  was  now  exhausted,  but  another 
bloody  encounter  was  to  take  place  near  the  spot  where  Ashby 
had  long  before  drawn  rein,  and  sat  on  his  white  horse  unmoved 
amid  the  Federal  bullets. 

General  McClellan  had  no  sooner  received  intelligence  of  the 
retreat  of  his  adversary,  than  he  pushed  a  strong  column  toward 
the  Potomac  in  pursuit  of  him.  Heavy  batteries  were  promptly 
disposed  along  the  high  ground  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river- 
opposite  Shepherdstown,  and  a  determined  fire  was  opened  on 
the  Confederate  troops  drawn  up  upon  the  southern  shore.  To 
this  fire,  General  Pendleton,  chief  of  artillery  of  the  army,  re^ 
plied  with  vigor,  and  the  Stuart  Horse  Artillery,  under  Major 
John  Pelham,  was  especially  active  in  engaging  the  enemy's 
batteries. 

In  the  evening  the  fire  of  the  Federal  artillery  was  redoubled, 
and  under  the  protection  of  the  guns,  General  McClellan  con>- 
menced  crossing  a  column,  driving  off  General  Pendleton  and 
Lawton's  brigades,  which  acted  as  a  support  to  the  guns.  By 
the  morning  of  the  20th  a  considerable  body  had  crossed  to  the 
southern  bank,  and  Generals  A.  P.  Hill  and  Early,  who  had 
moved  with  the  rest  of  Jackson's  corps  toward  Martinsburg,, 
were  directed  to  return  and  drive  the  enemy  back. 

These  orders  were  promptly  obeyed,  and  the  troops  were 
soon  at  the  point  of  danger.  General  Hill,  who  commanded,, 
drew  up  his  force  in  two  lines — the  first  composed  of  Fender's,. 
Gregg's,  and  Thomas'  brigades,  under  command  of  General 
Gregg ;  the  second,  of  Lane's,  Archer's,  and  Brockenbrough's 
brigades,  under  General  Archer.  General  Early,  with  his  own, 
brigade  and  those  of  Trimble  and  Hays,  took  position  in  the; 
woods  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  road  leading  to  the  ford. 


344  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

The  Federal  infantry  was  drawn  up  on  the  high  banks  of  the 
southern  shore,  and  every  point  upon  the  Maryland  side  of  the 
river  was  crowned  with  their  batteries,  ready  to  open  upon  the 
Confederate  line  as  soon  as  it  advanced.  As  General  Hill 
moved  forward  to  the  attack,  the  Federal  artillery  commenced  a 
rapid  fire  of  shot  and  shell  upon  his  advancing  column,  but  no  no- 
tice of  this  was  taken  by  the  troops.  They  pressed  forward,  and 
Fender  found  himself  in  front  of  the  main  Federal  force  which 
was  massed  to  attack  him.  As  he  charged,  they  poured  a  volley 
into  his  line,  and  then  rapidly  extended  with  the  view  of  turning 
his  left.  Archer  promptly  threw  his  brigade  in  that  direction, 
and  formed  on  Fender's  left,  when,  advancing  his  whole  line, 
Hill  made  an  impetuous  charge,  and  drove  the  Federal  line 
before  him,  from  the  hill,  down  the  bank,  and  into  the  river, 
where  many  were  drowned  in  attempting  to  cross. 

"  With  no  stop  or  hesitation,"  says  an  eye-witness,  "  using 
no  artillery,  sending  his  men  in  steadily,  General  A.  P.  Hill 
drove  the  enemy  into  and  across  the  river,  taking  300  prisoners, 
and  making  the  river  blue  with  the  dead." 

Two  hundred  prisoners  were  taken  in  this  affair,  which 
seems  to  have  discouraged  the  Federal  commander  from  any 
further  attempts  to  cross  the  river.  The  position  on  the  bank 
was  held  by  Hill  throughout  the  day  until  relieved  by  Fitz  Lee's 
cavalry,  General  Stuart  having  gone  with  the  rest  of  his  com- 
mand to  make  an  important  demonstration  above,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Williamsport,  where  he  met  and  repulsed  the  enemy  in  a  brief 
but  spirited  engagement. 

On  the  same  evening  Jackson  moved  from  Shepherdstown, 
and  encamped  on  the  Opequon,  from  which  point,  on  the  27th, 
he  moved  back  to  Bunker's  Hill,  on  the  Martin'sburg  and  Win- 
chester turnpike,  where,  in  July,  1861,  he  had  in  the  same 
manner  awaited  the  approach  of  General  Patterson. 

At  Harper's  Ferry,  Sharpsburg,  and  Shepherdstown,  he  had 
lost  38  officers  killed  and  171  wounded,  313  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates  killed,  1,859  wounded,  and  57  missing; 
making  a  total  loss  of  2,438  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 


THE   CAMPAIGN.  345 

"For  these  great  and  signal  victories,"  he  says  in  terminat- 
ing his  report,  "  our  sincere  and  humble  thanks  are  due  unto 
Almighty  God.  Upon  all  appropriate  occasions  we  should 
acknowledge  the  hand  of  Him  who  reigns  in  Heaven,  and  rules 
among  the  powers  of  the  earth.  In  view  of  the  arduous  labors, 
and  great  privations  which  the  troops  were  called  on  to  endure 
and  the  isolated  and  perilous  position  which  the  command  occu- 
pied while  engaged  with  the  greatly  superior  force  of  the  enemy, 
we  feel  the  encouraging  consolation  that  God  was  with  us  and 
gave  to  us  the  victory,  and  unto  His  holy  name  be  all  gratitude 
and  praise." 


CHAPTER   XXH. 

THE   CAMPAIGN. 

THE  campaign  of  1862  had  virtually  ended,  and  General 
Lee's  army  was  again  upon  the  soil  of  Virginia. 

From  James  River  to  the  Potomac,  the  path  of  the  Southern- 
ers had  been  strewed  all  over  with  battles.  Defeating  the  Fed- 
eral forces  in  the  bloody  conflicts  of  the  Chickahominy,  they  had 
achieved  an  important  success  over  the  army  of  General  Pope 
at  Cedar  Run ;  and  then  advancing  without  pause,  had  driven 
that  commander  from  Culpepper,  flanked  him  beyond  the  Rap- 
pahannock,  and  after  destroying  his  enormous  depot  of  stores, 
engaged  him  on  the  old  battle  field  of  Manassas,  and  in  an 
obstinate  and  bloody  battle  completely  defeated  him.  At 
Oxhill,  the  rout  of  the  Federal  forces  on  the  soil  of  Virginia 
became  final,  and  the  army  had  pushed  on  without  resting,  and 
invaded  Maryland.  Here  it  had  been  engaged  in  bloody  en- 
counters at  Boonsboro'  and  Crampton's  Gap ;  had  captured 
Harper's  Ferry,  with  11,000  prisoners  and  73  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  had  sustained  at  Sharpsburg  the  assault  of  87,000  troops 
under  a  commander  of  acknowledged  ability,  offering  him  battle 


346  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

on  the  succeeding  day,  and  only  crossing  back  into  Virginia  fofr 
want  of  food  and  ammunition.  When  the  enemy  pursued,  they 
had  been  completely  defeated  in  a  brief  but  bloody  engagement, 
and,  drawn  up  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  Potomac,  the  army 
still  bade  defiance  to  its  adversaries. 

Of  the  men  who  performed  these  arduous  labors,  and  were- 
successful  upon  so  many  fields  against  odds  so  great,  it  has 
been  truthfully  said  that  "  one-fifth  of  them  were  barefooted, 
one-half  of  them  in  rags,  and  the  whole  of  them  half  famished." 
We  have  seen  that  even  their  adversaries  regarded  them  with 
mingled  admiration  and  pity,  characterizing  them  as  "those- 
ragged  wretches,  sick,  hungry,  and  in  all  way  miserable,"  and 
wondering  how  they  could  "  prove  such  heroes."  From  Federal 
sources  came  the  acknowledgment  that  "  men  never  fought 
better,"  and  it  was  evidently  a  subject  of  great  astonishment 
with  the  enemy  how  troops  so  badly  clothed  and  fed,  with  such 
gaunt  frames  and  bleeding  feet,  could  have  the  heart  to  contend 
against  superior  numbers,  thoroughly  equipped,  with  a  courage 
so  unfaultering  and  admirable. 

A  Southern  writer,  once  an  humble  unit  of  this  historic 
army,  may  be  pardoned  this  reference  to  its  superb  efficiency 
and  those  laurels  which  "  time  cannot  wither."  It  did  not  win 
those  laurels  without  sweating  blood  in  the  effort,  nor  triumph 
over  "  slaves  and  cowards."  The  Northern  troops  fought  at  the 
second  Manassas,  and  at  Sharpsburg,  with  a  gallantry  which  ex- 
torted the  admiration  of  their  adversaries,  and  they  were  led  by 
generals  of  the  coolest  courage  and  the  highest  ability.  They 
were  not  a  foe  to  be  despised,  nor  did  either  side  despise  the 
other  in  that  hard  struggle.  When  General  Lee  surrendered,  it 
was  the  preachers  and  other  non-combatants,  not  the  northern 
troops,  who  wanted  every  Southern  soldier  hanged  or  shot  for 
treason. 

The  toils,  hardships,  and  glories  of  the  army  of  Northern 
Virginia  must  be  left  to  the  historian  of  the  future.  But  there 
is  a  tribunal  which  is  almost  as  impartial  as  the  aftertime.  It 
has  been  said  with  truth  that  the  voice  of  the  stranger  is  like 


GENERAL   LEE5S   ADDRESS   TO   HIS   ARMY.  347 

that  of  posterity,  and  a  paragraph  upon  this  army  is  here  inserted 
from  the  leading  journal  of  England. 

"  The  people  of  the  Confederate  States,"  says  the  "  London 
Times,"  "have  made  themselves  famous.  If  the  renown  of 
brilliant  courage,  stern  devotion  to  a  cause,  and  military  achieve- 
ments almost  without  a  parallel,  can  compensate  men  for  the  toil 
and  privations  of  the  hour,  then  the  countrymen  of  Lee  and 
Jackson  may  be  consoled  amid  their  sufferings.  From  all  pai*ts 
of  Europe,  from  their  enemies  as  well  as  their  friends,  from  those 
who  condemn  their  acts  as  well  as  those  who  sympathize  with 
them,  comes  the  tribute  of  admiration.  When  the  history  of  this 
war  is  written,  the  admiration  will  doubtless  become  deeper  and 
stronger,  for  the  veil  which  has  covered  the  South  will  be  drawn 
away  and  disclose  a  picture  of  patriotism,  of  unanimous  self- 
sacrifice,  of  wise  and  firm  administration,  which  we  can  now  only 
see  indistinctly.  The  details  of  extraordinary  national  effort 
which  has  led  to  the  repulse  and  almost  to  the  destruction  of  an 
invading  force  of  more  than  half  a  million  of  men,  will  then  be- 
come known  to  the  world  ;  and,  whatever  may  be  the  fate  of  the 
new  nationality,  or  its  subsequent  claims  to  the  respect  of  man- 
kind, it  will  assuredly  begin  its  career  with  a  reputation  for 
genius  and  valor  which  the  most  famous  nations  may  envy." 


CHAPTER  XXTTT. 

GENERAL   LEE*S   ADDRESS   TO    HIS   ARMT. 

THE  Maryland  campaign  had  ended  in  one  of  those  retreats 
which  ruin  an  opponent.  General  Lee  had  entered  the  Federal 
territory,  and  at  one  blow  captured  11,000  prisoners,  13,000 
small-arms,  and  73  pieces  of  artillery  ;  had  repulsed  a  force 
about  three  times  greater  than  his  own,  under  the  ablest  of  their 
Generals,  in  a  pitched  battle  of  incredible  fury  ;  and  then,  deter- 
mining of  his  own  motion  to  retire,  had  done  so,  after  offering 


34:8  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

them  battle  for  twenty-four  hours — leaving  nothing  in  theit 
hands,  and  driving  them  with  heavy  loss  across  the  Potomac 
again  when  they  attempted  to  harass  his  rear. 

Such  a  retreat,  after  such  successes,  was  a  victory  ;  and  there 
were  many  persons  at  the  North  even  candid  enough  to  concede 
the  fact.  "  He  leaves  us,"  growled  the  New  York  "  Tribune," 
"  the  debris  of  his  late  camps,  two  disabled  pieces  of  artillery,  a 
few  hundred  of  his  stragglers,  perhaps  two  thousand  of  his 
wounded,  and  as  many  more  of  his  unburied  dead.  Not  a 
sound  field-piece,  caisson,  ambulance,  or  wagon ;  not  a  tent,  box 
of  stores,  or  a  pound  of  ammunition.  He  takes  with  him  the 
supplies  gathered  in  Maryland,  and  the  rich  spoils  of  Harper's 
Ferry." 

General  Lee's  address  to  his  army  upon  their  return  to  Vir- 
ginia will  appropriately  conclude  our  account  of  the  great  cam- 
paign to  which  he  refers  : 

General  Orders  No.  116. 
HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  October  2d,  1862. 

In  reviewing  the  achievements  of  the  army  during  the  present  campaign, 
the  Commanding  General  cannot  withhold  the  expression  of  his  admiration  of 
the  indomitable  courage  it  has  displayed  in  battle,  and  its  cheerful  endurance 
of  privation  and  hardship  on  the  march. 

Since  your  great  victories  around  Richmond  you  have  defeated  the  enemy 
at  Cedar  Mountain,  expelled  him  from  the  Rappahannock,  and,  after  a  conflict 
of  three  days,  utterly  repulsed  him  on  the  plains  of  Manassas,  and  forced  him 
to  take  shelter  within  the  fortifications  around  his  capital. 

Without  halting  for  repose  you  crossed  the  Potomac,  stormed  the  heights 
of  Harper's  Ferry,  made  prisoners  of  more  than  11,000  men,  and  captured  up- 
wards of  seventy  pieces  of  artillery,  all  their  small-arms,  and  other  munitions 

of  war. 

While  one  corps  of  the  army  was  thus  engaged,  the  other  insured  its 
success  by  arresting  at  Boonsboro'  the  combined  armies  of  the  enemy,  advanc- 
ing under  their  favorite  General  to  the  relief  of  their  beleaguered  comrades. 

On  the  field  of  Sharpsburg,  with  less  than  one-third  his  numbers,  you  re- 
sisted, from  daylight  until  dark,  the  whole  army  of  the  enemy,  and  repulsed 
every  attack  along  his  entire  front,  of  more  than  four  miles  in  extent. 

The  whole  of  the  following  day  you  stood  prepared  to  resume  the  conflict 
on  the  same  ground,  and  retired  next  morning,  without  molestation,  across  the 
Potomac. 


JACKSON   AND   HIS    VETERANS   RESTING.  349 

Two  attempts,  subsequently  made  by  the  enemy,  to  follow  you  across  the 
fiver,  have  resulted  in  his  complete  discomfiture,  and  being  driven  back  with 
loss. 

Achievements  such  as  these  demanded  much  valor  and  patriotism.  His- 
tory records  few  examples  of  greater  fortitude  and  endurance  than  this  army 
has  exhibited ;  and  I  am  commissioned  by  the  President  to  thank  you  in  the 
name  of  the  Confederate  States  for  the  undying  fame  you  have  won  for  their 


arms. 


Much  as  you  have  done,  much  more  remains  to  be  accomplished.  The 
enemy  again  threatens  us  with  invasion,  and  to  your  tried  valor  and  patriotism 
the  country  looks  with  confidence  for  deliverance  and  safety.  Your  past  ex- 
ploits give  assurance  that  this  confidence  is  not  misplaced. 

E.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

JACKSON   AND   HIS   VETERANS   RESTING. 

JACKSON'S  corps  passed  the  beautiful  month  of  October  in  the 
picturesque  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah — that  region  which  their 
leader  had  already  made  so  famous. 

There,  in  the  bright  October  days,  the  army  rested  and  re- 
covered its  strength  and  spirits.  The  bracing  mountain  breeze, 
the  beautiful  skies,  the  liberty  to  engage  in  every  species  of  fun 
and  frolic,  within  the  limits  of  military  discipline,  seemed  to 
pour  new  life-blood  into  the  frames  of  the  men,  exhausted  and 
worn  down  by  the  immense  marches  which  they  had  made  from 
Cedar  Run  to  Sharpsburg,  and  the  toils,  privations,  hardships, 
and  excitements  which  they  had  undergone. 

That  region  must  have  aroused  many  memories  in  the  hearts 
of  Jackson's  men— especially  in  the  members  of  the  "  Old  Stone- 
wall Brigade,"  which  had  fought  the  enemy  all  along  from  Fall 
ing  Waters  to  the  sources  of  the  Shenandoah.  They  had  encoun- 
tered General  Patterson  in  one  of  the  earliest  engagements  of  the 
war  near  Martinsburg,  but  a  few  miles  distant ;  on  the  road  by 
the  side  of  which  they  were  now  encamped,  they  had  retreated 


350  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

before  the  columns  of  the  same  General ;  and  along  that  road 
they  had  pressed  after  General  Banks  when,  routed  at  Winches- 
ter, he  had  hastened  to  recross  the  Potomac.  Since  those  old 
days  they  had  fought  at  Cross  Keys,  Port  Republic,  Cold  Har- 
bor, Malvern  Hill,  Cedar  Run,  Bristoe,  Manassas,  Oxhill,  Har- 
per's Ferry,  Sharpsburg,  Shepherdstown,  and  Kearneysville. 
Comrade  after  comrade  had  lain  down  to  die  upon  those  bloody 
fields — face  after  face  had  "  gone  into  the  darkness,"  amid  the 
war- smoke  hovering  above  the  swamps  of  the  lowland,  the  pines 
of  Manassas,  the  Valley  of  the  Antietam.  They  were  still  alive, 
and  after  all  their  wanderings  had  returned  to  the  land  where 
they  first  learned  the  art  of  war  under  their  now  illustrious  chief 
— returned  to  it,  too,  at  a  season  when  the  face  of  Nature  is  glo- 
rious with  that  beauty  which  seems  to  reach  perfection  just  when 
it  is  passing — when  the  fields  and  forest,  with  their  tints  of  gold, 
and  red,  and  yellow,  are  more  lovely  than  the  dreams  of  poets. 
Here,  in  the  fine  and  beautiful  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Opequon,  which  murmurs  under  its  tall  trees,  as  it 
lapses  gently  toward  the  Potomac,  the  weary  soldiers  of  the 
Stonewall  Corps  found  rest  and  refreshment;  and  the  bracing 
air,  as  we  have  said,  made  them  boys  again,  filling  every  pulse 
with  health  and  joy.  The  jest,  the  practical  joke,  the  ready 
laugh  passed  round  ;  and  for  a  time  the  whole  army  of  Northern 
Virginia  was  in  extravagant  spirits,  cheering  upon  the  least  prov- 
ocation like  a  party  of  boys,  and  permitting  no  occasion  for 
indulging  in  laughter  to  escape  them.  We  have  a  letter  written 
by  one  of  the  corps  about  this  time,  which  conveys  a  very  accu- 
rate idea  of  the  manner  in  which  Jackson's  men  amused  them- 
selves ;  and  its  careless  style  and  homely  details  may  serve  to 
interest  the  stay-at-home  reader  who  is  not  familiar  with  the 
'»  goings  on  "  of  an  army.  Here  it  is  : 

"  '  Cock-a-doodle-doo-oo  !'  sounded  the  '  shrill  clarion*  of  a 
neighboring  henroost  before  day  this  morning ;  a  wakeful  soldier 
caught  up  the  strain,  and  he  and  a  hundred  others  forthwitk  re- 
peated bogus  cock-a-doodle-doos,  until  they  had  effectually  '  mur- 
dered sleep'  throughout  the  entire  regiment.  To  pass  the  timo 


JACKSON   AND    HIS   VETERANS   BESTING.  351 

until  breakfast  (!) — i.  e.,  till  some  'solid-shot  biscuit'  and 
leather  steaks  of  lean  kine  be  cooked — I  will  '  retaliate'  on  you 
and  your  readers. 

"  The  campaign  having  apparently  ended,  there  are  no  '  mov- 
ing accidents  by  flood  or  field'  of  interest,  and  therefore  nothing 
left  to  record  but  the  routine  of  daily  camp  life ;  this  shall  be 
true  to  history,  however,  to  let  the  old  folks  at  home  know  how 
we  live  'sure  enough*  while  here.  At  this  particular  season, 
though,  it  is  particularly  dull — 

'  No  mail,  no  post, 
No  news  from  any  foreign  coast ; 
No  warmth,  no  cheerfulness,  no  healthful  ease, 

No  comfortable  feel  in  any  member, 
No  shade,  no  sunshine,  no  butterflies,  no  bees, 
November ! ' 

"  Our  camps  not  being  regulated  by  military  rule,  for  want  of 
material  in  tents,  etc.,  are  left  to  illustrate  the  variegated,  archi- 
tectural, and  domestic  tastes  of  the  thousand  different  individuals 
concerned.  Hence,  although  a  wall  tent  or  Sibley  graces  an 
occasional  locality,  the  most  of  the  men  ensconce  themselves  in 
bush-built  shelters  of  various  shapes,  in  fence-corners,  under 
gum-blankets,  eked  out  by  cedar  boughs,  or  burrow  semi-subter- 
raneously  like  Esquimaux.  If,  as  is  said,  the  several  styles  of 
architecture  took  their  origin  from  natural  circumstances  and 
climate,  etc.,  as  the  curving  Oriental  roofs  from  the  long  reeds 
originally  in  use — the  slanting  Egyptians  from  the  necessity  of 
baking  their  uuburnt  bricks  in  the  hot  sun — the  Corinthian 
from  its  own  flowery  clime,  etc.,  etc. — an  architectural  genius 
might  find  enough  original  designs  in  this  camp  to  supply  a  cen- 
tury to  come. 

"  The  only  '  useful  occupation'  of  this  brigade  for  some  time 
past  has  been  to  destroy  all  the  railroads  in  reach  ;  apparently, 
too,  for  no  better  reason  than  the  fellow  had  for  killing  the 
splendid  anaconda  in  the  museum,  because  it  was  his  '  rule  to 
kill  snakes  wherever  found.'  A  soldier  just  said,  '  Old  Jack  in- 
tends us  to  tear  up  all  the  railroads  in  the  State,  and  with  no 


352  LITE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

tools  but  our  pocket-knives.'  They  have  so  far  destroyed  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio,  from  Hedgesville  to  near  Harper's  Ferry, 
the  Winchester  and  Potomac  almost  entirely,  and  now  the  Ma- 
nassas  Gap  from  Piedmont  to  Strasburg. 

"  It  is  when  idle  in  camp  that  the  soldier  is  a  great  institu- 
tion, yet  one  that  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated.  Pen  cannot 
fully  paint  the  air  of  cheerful  content,  care-hilarity,  irresponsible 
loungings,  and  practical  spirit  of  jesting  that  '  obtains'  ready  to 
seize  on  any  odd  circumstance  in  its  licensed  levity.  A  '  caval- 
ryman '  comes  rejoicing  in  immense  top-boots,  for  which  in  fond 
pride  he  had  invested  full  forty  dollars  of  pay  ;  at  once  the  cry 
from  a  hundred  voices  follows  him  along  the  line :  '  Come  up 
out  o'  them  boots  ! — come  out ! — too  soon  to  go  into  winter  quar- 
ters !  I  know  you're  in  thar  ! — see  your  arms  stickin'  out ! '  A 
bumpkin  rides  by  in  an  uncommonly  big  hat,  and  is  frightened  at 
the  shout :  '  Come  down  out  o'  that  hat !  Come  down  !  'Taint 
no  use  to  say  you  ain't  up  there  ;  I  see  your  legs  hanging  out ! ' 
A  fancy  staff  officer  was  horrified  at  the  irreverent  reception  of 
his  nicely-twisted  mustache,  as  he  heard  from  behind  innumer- 
able trees  :  '  Take  them  mice  out  o'  your  mouth  ! — take  'em 
out ! — no  use  to  say  they  ain't  thar  ;  see  their  tails  hanging  out ! ' 
Another,  sporting  immense  whiskers,  was  urged  to  '  come  out 
of  that  bunch  of  bar  !  I  know  you're  in  thar  ;  I  see  your  ears 
a  working ! '  Sometimes  a  rousing  cheer  is  heard  in  the  dis- 
tance— it  is  explained  : '  Boys,  look  out ! — here  comes  "  Old  Stone- 
wall" or  an  old  hare,  one  or  t'other' — they  being  about  the  only 
individuals  who  invariably  bring  down  the  house. 

"  But  the  whole  day  of  camp  life  is  not  yet  described ;  the 
night  remains,  and  latterly  it  is  no  unusual  scene,  as  the  gloam- 
ing gathers,  to  see  a  group  quietly  collect  beneath  the  dusky 
shadows  of  the  forest  trees — '  God's  first  temples ' — whence  soon 
arise  the  notes  of  some  familiar  hymn,  awaking  memories  of 
childhood  and  of  home.  The  youthful  chaplain  in  earnest  tones 
tells  his  holy  mission  ;  another  hymn  is  heard,  and  by  the  wan- 
ing light  of  the  pine  torches  the  weird-like  figures  of  the  grouped 
soldiers  are  seen  reverently  moving  to  the  night's  repose.  The- 


JACKSON   AND    HIS    VETERANS   BESTING.  353 

deep  bass  drum  beats  taps — the  sounds  die  out  in  all  the  camps, 
save  at  times  the  sweet  strains  from  the  band  of  the  5th  Stone- 
wall regiment  in  a  neighboring  grove,  till  they  too  fade  away 
into  the  stilly  night,  and  soon — 

'  The  soldiers  lie  peacefully  dreaming, 


Their  tents  in  the  rays  of  the  clear  autumn  moon, 
Or  the  light  of  the  watch-fires  are  gleaming ; 

A  tremulous  sigh  as  the  gentle  night  wind 
Through  the  forest  leaves  slowly  is  creeping, 

While  the  stars  up  above  with  their  glittering  eyes 
Keep  guard,  for  the  army  is  sleeping.'  " 

During  these  days  Jackson  had  his  headquarters  near 
Bunker's  Hill,  and  was  often  seen  moving  to  and  fro  among  his 
troops  on  his  old  sorrel  horse,  with  the  old  uniform.  He  was 
always  greeted  with  cheers  by  his  men,  and  the  phrase,  "  Jack- 
son or  a  rabbit,"  became  universal  in  alluding  to  these  gay 
sounds  heard  in  the  distance.  A  hundred  anecdotes  were  told,  a 
hundred  witticisms  attributed  to  him. 

In  Martinsburg,  where  the  ladies  crowded  around  him,  he 
said  :  "  Ladies,  this  is  the  first  time  I  was  ever  surrounded ;"  in 
spite  of  which,  says  a  letter-writer,  "  they  cut  every  button  off 
his  coat,  commenced  on  his  pants,  and  at  one  time  threatened  to 
leave  him  in  the  uniform  of  a  Georgia  colonel — shirt-collar  and 
spurs." 

After  Sharpsburg,  an  old  and  hardened  offender  in  D.  H. 
Hill's  division  was  brought  before  that  commander  for  burning 
fence-rails  ;  and  despairing  of  producing  any  reform  in  him,  Gen- 
eral Hill  sent  him  to  Jackson,  who  asked  him  why  he  persisted 
in  burning  rails. 

"Well,  General,"  returned  the  reprobate,  "you  see  Fve 
been  enlisted  eight  months  now  in  General  Hill's  division,  and 
in  all  that  time  I  never  could  get  a  good  look  at  you,  so  I 
thought  I  would  steal  some  fence-rails  ;  I  knew  they  would  take 
me  up  and  then  send  me  to  you,  so  I  would  see  you." 

A  grim  smile  greeted  this  impudent  excuse,  and  reading  his 
man  at  a  glance,  Jackson  turned  to  an  orderly  and  said : 
23 


354  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

"  Take  this  man  and  buck  him,  and  set  him  on  the  top  of 
that  empty  barrel  in  front  of  ray  tent.  The  front  is  open,  and 
he  can  look  at  me  as  much  as  he  likes." 

The  order  was  obeyed  to  the  letter,  and  for  several  hours, 
while  Jackson  was  engaged  upon  his  official  correspondence, 
the  rail-destroyer  had  an  excellent  opportunity  of  gratifying  his 
curiosity. 

This  and  the  incident  related  by  Colonel  Ford  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  with  a  hundred  other  anecdotes,  true  or  imaginary,  were 
repeated  by  the  men,  and  "  Old  Jack,"  a  name  by  which  the 
General  had  become  universally  known  among  his  troops,  be- 
came immensely  popular.  We  have  already  set  forth  the  more 
solid  grounds  of  popularity  with  the  best  men  of  his  command, 
but  these  anecdotes  made  him  a  prime  favorite  with  the  mass 
of  the  troops.  Certain  it  is  that  Jackson  was  never  more  popu- 
lar than  after  the  Maryland  campaign  ;  and  this  doubtless  arose, 
in  very  great  measure,  from  the  huge  satisfaction  which  his 
corps  experienced  in  having  secured  the  really  solid  results  of 
the  movement,  in  the  capture  of  Harper's  Ferry,  with  the  great 
number  of  prisoners,  small-arms,  and  pieces  of  artillery. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  scanned  curiously  in  those  days  the 
appearance  of  the  soldier,  with  whose  praises  the  whole  land 
was  ringing.  He  wore  his  dingy  old  uniform,  and  cavalry 
boots,  but  the  ladies  of  Martinsburg  had  robbed  him  not  only  of 
his  buttons  but  his  old  cap.  The  individual  in  the  tall  black 
hat,  with  the  brim  turned  down,  quaker-wise  all  round,  scarcely 
seemed  to  be  the  veritable  Stonewall  Jackson.  But  greater 
changes  still  were  to  ensue  in  his  personal  appearance. 
Prompted  by  admiration,  regard,  or  the  desire  to  clothe  in 
more  imposing  garb  the  simple  soldier,  a  distinguished  officer, 
long  united  to  him  by  the  ties  of  affection  and  the  recollection  of 
many  arduous  toils  in  common,  gave  him  a  new  coat,  whose 
wreath  and  staff  buttons  appear  in  the  engraving  in  front  of  this 
volume.  It  was  suggested  by  one  to  whom  the  question  was 
propounded  whether  Jackson  would  relish  this  present,  that  the 
soldier  would  undoubtedly  appreciate  such  an  evidence  of  regard, 


JACKSON    AND   HIS   VETERANS   RESTING.  355 

accept  the  coat  and  put  it  away  carefully  in  his  trunk,  not  dar- 
ing to  wear  it  for  fear  of  the  indignation  of  his  old  brigade  and 
their  comrades.  But  this  prediction  was  falsified  ;  Jackson  was 
highly  pleased  with  his  coat,  and  he  wore  it  on  the  hot  day  of 
Fredericksburg. 

He  was  an  object  at  this  time  of  great  curiosity  in  the  region  ; 
and  was  warmly  greeted  by  those  who  had  known  Colonel  Jack- 
son of  the  days  of  Falling  Waters,  and  regarded  him  as  a  son 
of  the  Valley.  The  ladies  were  far  more  enthusiastic  about  him 
than  about  the  youngest  and  handsomest  generals  of  the  army  ; 
and  at  the  announcement  that  "  General  Jackson  was  coming," 
they  would  put  on  their  finest  silks,  and  pay  as  much  attention 
to  their  toilets  as  if  he  had  been  the  most  imposing  and  gallant 
of  Lovelaces,  instead  of  a  modest  gentleman  who  preferred  old 
ladies  in  black  silk;  never  knew  what  anybody  wore,  and 
blushed  at  the  wishes  expressed  by  young  ladies  to  kiss  him. 

Upon  one  occasion  when  Generals  Lee,  Jackson,  Stuart,  and 
Longstreet  dined  at  a  hospitable  house  on  the  Opequon,  not  far 
from  Leetown,  the  lady  of  the  mansion  declared  that  it  was  like 
the  famous  breakfast  at  the  Castle  of  Tillietudlem,  and  that  Gen- 
eral Lee's  chair  should  be  marked  and  remembered  ;  but  it  was 
said  that  General  Jackson  had  been  regaled  with  the  choicest 
portions  of  the  banquet,  and  that  for  him  she  arrayed  herself  in 
her  best  silk  and  assumed  her  most  winning  smiles. 

It  was  at  this  period  that  Jackson  displayed  a  trait  of  char- 
acter for  which  few  gave  him  credit.  When  General  Stuart 
made  his  raid  into  Maryland  aud  Pennsylvania  in  October,  Jack- 
son expressed  the  liveliest  regret  that  he  had  not  been  able  to 
accompany  him,  as  a  private  and  amateur  cavalryman  of  the 
expedition.  He  betrayed  on  this  occasion  a  longing  for  excite- 
ment and  action  which  seemed  foreign  to  the  character  of  the 
pious  and  collected  soldier ;  but  nothing  is  more  certain  than 
that  this  love  of  active  movement,  danger,  and  adventure,  was  a 
prominent  trait  in  his  organization. 

But  the  days  were  hurrying  on.  General  McClellan  si  ill 
threatened  Lee's  front,  and  as  the  month  of  October  glided 


356  LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

away,  carrying  off  the  gorgeous  trappings  of  the  forest,  and  th« 
brilliant  sunshine  of  the  autumn  days,  the  Federal  authorities 
were  evidently  preparing  for  another  advance  into  Virginia. 

Jackson  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Bunker  Hill,  ready  to 
strike  their  advancing  column  if  they  attempted  to  move  upon 
Winchester ;  and  he  and  his  veteran  corps  still  rested,  before  en- 
tering upon  other  bloody  scenes  of  conflict. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

GENERAL  McCLELLAN  ADVANCES. 

THE  aim  of  this  volume  is  to  present  an  outline  of  the  events 
of  Jackson's  life  ;  and  the  narrative  is  thus  confined  to  the  field 
of  operations  in  Virginia.  The  crowding  incidents  of  the  war 
in  other  portions  of  the  country  are  no  part  of  our  subject ;  and 
in  like  manner  all  discussions  of  political  occurrences  may 
with  propriety  be  omitted.  The  historian  of  the  future  will 
sum  up  and  make  his  comments  on  the  whole  struggle ;  our  part 
is  to  follow  the  steps  of  Jackson. 

"We  thus  pass  over  the  campaigns  of  the  West,  and  those 
political  movements,  at  both  capitals,  which  marked  the  autumn 
of  1862.  Our  attention  will  continue  to  be  directed  to  the 
movements  of  the  two  great  adversaries  who  confronted  each 
other  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac. 

Both  armies  were  resting  after  the  exhausting  campaign  ter- 
minating on  the  field  of  Sharpsburg.  But  the  bright  days  of 
October  were  not  suffered  to  glide  away  without  attempts  on  the 
part  of  each  commander  to  beat  up  the  quarters  of  his  opponent. 
This  policy  was  inaugurated  by  Major-General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart, 
in  one  of  those  raids  which  had  so  greatly  annoyed  the  enemy 
on  the  Chickahominy,  at  Catlett's,  and  elsewhere.  At  day- 
light on  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  October,  General  Stuart, 
with  1,800  men  and  four  pieces  of  horse  artillery,  crossed 


GENERAL   McCLELLAN  ADVANCES.  35T 

the  Potomac  between  Williamsport  and  Hancock  ;  proceeded  by 
a  rapid  march  to  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  which  he  reached' 
at  dark  on  the  same  day ;  captured  the  place ;  destroyed  the- 
machine  shops  and  railroad  buildings,  containing  large  numbers 
of  arms  and  other  public  stores ;  and  on  the  next  morning 
marched  toward  Frederick  City.  The  character  of  the  country 
above  made  it  dangerous  to  attempt  the  recrossing  of  the  Po- 
tomac in  that  direction,  and  Stuart  had  taken  the  bold  resolution^ 
of  passing  entirely  around  the  Federal  army,  and  cutting  his 
way  through  to  and  across  the  ford  near  Lteesburg.  Tins  design 
was  executed  with  great  skill  and  nerve.  Moving  with  the  ut^ 
most  rapidity,  he  reached  Hyattstown  below  Frederick  at  day- 
light on  the  morning  of  the  12th,  and  pushing  on  toward  Pooles- 
ville,  found  that  the  road  in  that  direction  was  barred  by  Gen- 
eral Stoneman  with  about  5,000  troops,  and  that  railroad  trains 
were  standing  ready,  with  steam  up,  and  loaded  with  infantry, 
to  move  instantly  to  the  point  where  he  attempted  to  cross. 
These  formidable  preparations,  however,  failed  in  their  object. 
Turning  short  to  the  right,  and  thus  leaving  Poolesville  to  his 
left,  Stuart  continued  to  advance  with  rapidity  toward  the  Po- 
tomac, and  reaching  a  point  opposite  White's  ford,  opened  on 
the  enemy's  infantry  with  his  artillery,  advanced  his  dismounted 
sharpshooters,  and  charging  their  cavalry,  cut  his  way  through 
and  crossed  the  river,  greeting  their  reserves  as  they  rushed  for- 
ward to  harass  his  rear,  with  a  discharge  from  the  guns  of  Pel- 
ham  from  the  southern  bank. 

This  dangerous  expedition  had  thus  been  successfully  ac- 
complished. General  McClellan  had  made  elaborate  disposi- 
tions to  intercept  Stuart  on  his  return,  and  says  in  his  report : 
"  After  the  orders  were  given  for  covering  all  the  fords  upon  the' 
river,  I  did  not  think  it  possible  for  Stuart  to  recross,  and  I  be- 
lieved that  the  destruction  or  capture  of  his  entire  force  was 
perfectly  certain  ;  but  owing  to  the  fact  that  my  orders  were  not 
in  all  cases  carried  out  as  I  expected,  he  effected  his  escape  into 
Virginia  without  much  loss."  Stuart  did  not  lose  a  man. 

O 

Such  was  the  excellent  good  fortune  of  the  expedition,  which 


358  LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

in  many  ways  was  important.  Several  hundred  horses  were 
brought  safely  out,  and  large  amounts  of  stores  destroyed,  but 
these  were  the  least  important  results  of  the  expedition.  The 
Federal  cavalry  was  for  the  time  completely  broken  down  ;  large 
bodies  of  troops  were  detached  from  the  Federal  army  to  guard 
the  various  fords  on  the  Potomac,  and  General  McClellan's  ad- 
vance was  long  delayed  by  the  necessity  of  leaving  behind  him 
a  strong  force  to  repel  such  raids  in  future.  When  he  finally 
moved,  a  very  considerable  number  of  troops  remained  on  the 
upper  Potomac,  to  guard  against  another  movement  of  the  Con- 
federate cavalry  into  Pennsylvania. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  Federal  forces  in  their  turn  made 
•a  reconnoissauce.  A  strong  column  of  infantry  and  artillery 
was  pushed  from  Shepherdstown  toward  Leetown ;  but  upon 
reaching  the  edge  of  the  woods  in  that  vicinity  they  halted,  and 
on  the  same  evening  retreated  rapidly,  pursued  by  Stuart  with 
cavalry  and  artillery  to  the  Potomac.  Still  another  attempt  was 
made  to  reconnoitre  General  Lee's  position — this  time  with  cav- 
alry. A  large  force  crossed  at  Shepherdstown,  and  making  a 
vigorous  attack  upon  a  small  body  of  cavalry  there,  compelled 
it  to  return  toward  Martinsburg.  Here  General  Stuart  took 
command  in  person  ;  and  though  the  horses  were  nearly  ex- 
hausted and  the  men  dispirited  by  the  events  of  the  morning, 
his  attack  upon  the  Federal  cavalry  was  so  vigorous  that  they 
were  driven  back  over  the  road  by  which  they  had  advanced, 
and  at  nightfall  had  been  forced  to  recross  the  Potomac.* 

*  The  following  is  General  Lee's  report  of  this  incident : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  \ 
Camp  on  Washington's  Run,  Oct.  2,  1862.      ) 
(fen.  S.  COOPER,  Adjt.  and  Inspector  General  C.  S.  A.,  Richmond,  Va. 

GENERAL  :  The  enemy's  cavalry,  under  General  Pleasanton,  with  six  pieces 
of  artillery,  drove  back  our  pickets  yesterday,  in  front  of  Shepherdstown. 
The  9th  Virginia  cavalry,  which  was  on  picket,  repulsed  the  enemy  several 
times,  by  vigorous  charges,  disputing  the  ground  step  by  step,  back  to  the 
main  body.  By  the  time  his  artillery  reached  him,  Colonel  W.  H.  F.  Lee,  who 
was  in  command  of  the  brigade,  was  obliged  to  place  it  on  the  west  bank  of 
She  Opequon,  on  the  flank  of  the  enemy  as  he  approached  Martinsburg. 


GENERAL   McCLELLAN   ADVANCES.  359 

No  further  advance  of  the  Federal  forces  took  place  until 
toward  the  end  of  the  month.  General  McClellan  then  crossed 
n  considerable  force  both  at  Shepherdstown  and  Harper's  Ferry  ; 
and  driving  in  General  Lee's  advance  force  of  cavalry,  pushed 
his  column  to  Kearneys ville.  Here  he  was  met  by  Stuart  with 
cavalry,  artillery,  and  the  Stonewall  Brigade ;  but  the  force  of 
the  enemy  proving  too  great,  the  troops  were,  after  an  obstinate 
encounter,  withdrawn  toward  the  main  body.  On  the  next  day 
General  McClellan  pushed  on  to  Charlestown,  where  his  head- 
quarters were  established  for  a  few  hours.  He  then  returned  to 
Harper's  Ferry. 

All  seemed  ready  now  for  the  Federal  advance,  but  General 
McClellan  appears  to  have  regarded  the  equipment  of  his  forces 
as  too  incomplete  to  justify  a  forward  movement.  An  elaborate 
correspondence  took  place  upon  this  subject  between  himself  and 
General  Halleck,  the  Federal  General-in-Chief  at  Washington^ 
and  the  controversy  finally  assumed  a  tone  of  anger  and  bitter- 
ness. General  McClellan  was  greatly  censured  for  not  having 
cut  General  Lee  to  piece?  on  the  day  after  the  battle  of  Sharps- 
burg,  before  he  could  recross  the  Potomac  ;  and  the  Federal 
commander's  delay  in  advancing  now,  was  the  subject  of  uncon- 
cealed displeasure  on  the  part  of  General  Halleck  and  the 
authorities  at  Washington. 

This  now  took  a  definite  official  form.     On  the  6th  of  Octo- 

General  Hampton's  brigade  had  retired  through  Martinsburg,  on  the  Tus- 
carora  road,  when  General  Stuart  arrived  and  made  dispositions  to  attack. 
Lee's  brigade  was  advanced  immediately,  and  Hampton's  ordered  forward. 
The  enemy  retired  at  the  approach  of  Lee  along  the  Shepherdstown  road,  and 
was  driven  across  the  Potomac  by  the  cavalry,  with  a  severe  loss,  and  dark- 
ness alone  prevented  it  from  being  a  signal  victory.  His  rear  was  overtaken 
and  put  to  flight,  our  cavalry  charging  in  gallant  style  under  a  severe  fire  of 
artillery,  routing  squadron  after  squadron,  killing  a  number,  wounding  more, 
and  capturing  several.  He  was  driven  through  Shepherdstown,  and  crossed 
the  river  after  dark,  in  no  case  standing  a  hand  to  hand  conflict,  but  relying 
upon  his  artillery  and  carbines  at  long  range  for  protection. 

I  regret  to  add  that  we  lost  one  lieutenant  and  several  privates. 
I  am,  most  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding,. 


360  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

'her  General  Halleck  sent  General  McClellan  the  following 
•order : 

"  I  am  instructed  to  telegraph  you  as  follows :  The  Presi- 
dent directs  that  you  cross  the  Potomac,  and  give  battle  to  the 
•enemy  or  drive  him  South.  Your  army  must  move  now,  while 
the  roads  are  good.  If  you  cross  the  river  between  the  enemy 
and  Washington,  and  cover  the  latter  by  your  operation,  you  can 
be  reenforced  with  30,000  men.  If  you  move  up  the  Valley  of 
the  Shenandoah,  not  more  than  12,000  or  15,000  can  be  sent 
you.  The  President  advises  the  interior  line  between  Washing- 
ton and  the  enemy,  but  does  not  .order  it.  *  *  *  " 

To  this  peremptory  order  General  McClellan  replied  by  new 
•complaints  of  deficient  quartermaster  stores — shoes,  blankets, 
horses,  etc.  Without  a  thorough  reequipment  of  the  army,  and 
thousands  of  fresh  horses  for  the  cavalry,  it  was  physically  im- 
possible for  him,  he  declared,  to  make  a  forward  movement. 

It  is  probable  that  General  McClellan  was  also  actuated  by 
.an  intelligent  acquaintance  with  the  character  and  resources  of 
his  adversary.  He  had  been  unable  to  gain  a  decisive  success 
•over  General  Lee  at  Sharpsburg,  where  about  half  the  Con- 
federate army,  exhausted  by  long  marches,  had  confronted  him  ; 
&nd  it  was  scarcely  probable,  he  must  have  felt,  that  his  success 
would  now  be  more  encouraging,  when  General  Lee  had  filled 
up  his  ranks,  and  rested,  provisioned,  and  ammunitioned  his 
forces  for  another  struggle.  No  one,  perhaps,  of  all  the  Federal 
generals,  estimated  the  military  strength  of  the  Southern  army 
so  justly  as  this  officer ;  and  his  desire,  at  this  time,  seems  to 
.have  been,  to  delay  his  advance  into  Virginia  until  he  found 
himself  in  command  of  a  force  so  considerable  and  so  thoroughly 
equipped  as  to  render  success  certain. 

We  have  referred  to  the  reconnoissances  in  force  made  to 
Charlestown,  and  toward  Bunker  Hill.  It  is  probable  that  Gen- 
eral McClellan  had  not  then  determined  by  which  of  the  two 
routes  he  would  advance.  He  states  in  his  Report  that  he  pre- 
ferred the  route  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge ;  but  feared  that  as  soon 
as  he  crossed  into  Virginia,  Lee  would  recross  into  Maryland, 


GENERAL    MCQLELLAN    ADVANCES.  36] 

•and  again  advance  toward  Pennsylvania.  "  I  have  since,"  he 
says,  "  been  confirmed  in  the  belief,  that  if  I  had  crossed  the 
Potomac  below  Harper's  Ferry  in  the  early  part  of  October, 
General  Lee  would  have  recrossed  into  Maryland." 

The  month  of  November,  however,  was  now  rapidly  approach- 
ing, with  its  heavy  rains  and  inclement  days,  and  the  Federal 
commander  was  convinced  that  General  Lee  would  not  under- 
take again  to  pass  the  Potomac,  and  leave  a  swollen  river  in  his 
rear.  He  therefore  returned  to  his  original  plan — which  was 
also  President  Lincoln's — and  prepared  to  move  by  the  Pied- 
mont route  toward  the  Rappahannock. 

"  The  plan  of  campaign  I  adopted  during  this  advance,"  he 
says,  "  was  to  move  the  army,  well  in  hand,  parallel  to  the  Blue 
Ridge,  taking  Warrenton  as  the  point  of  direction  for  the  main 
army  ;  seizing  each  pass  on  the  Blue  Ridge,  by  detachments,  as 
we  approached  it,  and  guarding  them  after  we  had  passed,  as 
long  as  they  would  enable  the  enemy  to  trouble  our  communi- 
cations with  the  Potomac.  *  *  *  We  depended  upon  Har- 
per's Ferry  and  Berlin  for  supplies,  until  the  Manassas  Gap 
Railway  was  reached ;  when  that  occurred,  the  passes  in  our 
rear  were  to  be  abandoned,  and  the  army  massed,  ready  for 
action  or  movement  in  any  direction.  It  was  my  intention,  if 
upon  reaching  Ashby's,  or  any  other  pass,  the  enemy  were  in 
force  between  it  and  the  Potomac,  in  the  Valley  of.  the  Shenan- 
doah,  to  move  into  the  Valley  and  endeavor  to  gain  their  rear." 

Such  was  the  plan  which  the  Federal  commander  proceeded 
to  carry  into  execution,  in  the  last  week  of  October,  when  hie 
army  crossed  the  Potomac  into  Virginia. 


362  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

JACKSON   HALTS. 

THE  Federal  army  began  to  cross  the  Potomac  at  Berlin  oir 
the  26th  of  October,  and  General  Lee  promptly  broke  up  hia 
camp  in  front  of  Winchester,  and  moved  toward  the  lowland. 

Jackson  brought  up  the  rear,  moving  from  his  position  on  the 
Martinburg  and  Winchester  turnpike  near  Bunker  Hill,  by 
Smithfield,  Summit  Point,  and  Berryville,  to  the  vicinity  of  the 
little  village  of  Millwood,  opposite  Ashby's  Gap,  where  he 
halted  and  established  his  headquarters.  This  movement  on  the 
part  of  Jackson  puzzled  and  somewhat  delayed  the  enemy, 
through  fear  of  an  attack  upon  their  flank.  The  remainder  of 
the  army  meanwhile  crossed  into  Culpepper. 

General  Stuart  had  promptly  put  his  cavalry  in  motion,  and 
leaving  a  portion  to  report  to  General  Jackson,  crossed  the  Blue 
Ridge  at  Snicker's  Gap,  on  the  last  day  of  October.  From  a 
spur  of  the  mountain  the  wagon  trains  of  the  advancing  enemy 
could  be  seen,  stretching  away  for  miles,  and  moving  from  the 
Potomac  toward  Middleburg.  For  several  days  General  Stuart 
remained  in  .front  of  the  gaps  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  protecting  the 
flank  of  the  army  from  that  assault  which  we  have  seen  was  the 
design  of  General  McClellan ;  and  the  small  force  under  the 
Confederate  leader's  command  repeatedly  met  and  defeated  or 
held  in  check  the  Federal  Cavalry — at  Mountsville,  Aldie,  Union, 
and  elsewhere.  Finding  that  the  Federal  column  was  steadily 
moving  toward  the  Rappahannock,  General  Stuart  notified  Gen- 
eral Jackson  of  his  intention  to  move  from  in  front  of  Ashby's 
Gap,  and  proceeded  by  way  of  Barbee's  Cross  Roads — where  a 
portion  of  his  command  was  hotly  engaged  with  the  Federal  cav- 
alry— to  the  lines  on  the  Rappahannock,  in  front  of  General  Lee. 

Jackson  remained  in  the  Valley  ;  and  again  the  men  of  Long- 
street  declared,  with  great  enjoyment  of  their  joke,  that  the  ec« 


JACKSON    HALTS.  363 

centric  commander  of  the  2d  corps  was  "  lost."  Jackson  had 
been  "lost"  after  this  fashion,  however,  before  the  battles  of 
the  Chickahominy,  Cedar  Run,  the  advance  to  Warrenton 
Springs,  and  the  second  Manassas.  The  army  were  well  satis- 
fied to  have  him  thus  disappear — confident  that  he  would  man- 
age to  make  his  way  back  to  tb^em,  and  "  turn  up  "  if  any  hard 
fighting  was  to  be  done.  For  the  rest,  it  was  not  probable  that 
an  enemy  could  surprise  him  in  that  valley  region,  every  foot  of 
which  had  been  fought  over  by  his  men. 

Jackson  was  fully  aware  of  the  movements  of  the  enemy, 
and  no  doubt  divined  General  McClellan's  intention  to  gain  by  a 
rapid  march  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock  before  General  Lee 
could  confront  him,  seize  the  gaps  in  the  Blue  Ridge,  and,  by 
thus  holding  all  the  great  avenues  of  exit  from  the  Valley,  divide 
the  Confederate  army,  attack  it  in  detail,  and  defeat  it.  The 
danger  to  which  the  Confederate  commander  was  exposed  was 
great ;  but  he  seems  to  have  felt  entirely  assured  of  his  ability 
either  to  defeat  or  elude  the  enemy. 

General  Stuart,  who  visited  him  at  this  time,  near  Millwood, 
to  notify  him  of  the  intended  withdrawal  of  the  cavalry,  found 
him  reading  his  Bible  in  his  tent,  an  occupation  which  he  discon- 
tinued to  describe  his  intended  movements  to  foil  General  Mc- 
Clellan.  The  design  of  the  Federal  commander  was  evidently 
well  understood  by  him,  and  he  stated  to  General  Stuart  that  he 
intended  to  remain  near  Millwood  for  some  time — convinced 
that  the  presence  of  his  corps  at  that  point  would  puzzle  General 
McClellan  and  delay  his  advance,  from  apprehensions  of  a  move- 
ment against  the  Federal  rear.  If  General  McClellan  attacked 
him  with  equal  or  not  greatly  disproportioned  forces,  he  would 
fight.  If,  however,  the  entire  Federal  army  assailed  him,  he 
would  fall  back  toward  Strasburg,  march  around  the  Massinutton 
Mountain,  and  crossing  at  New  Market  and  Luray,  rejoin  Gen- 
eral Lee.  General  Stuart  described  Jackson's  demeanor  on  this 
occasion  as  exceedingly  sweet  and  kindly ;  but  the  two  com- 
manders were  great  friends,  and  the  visit  doubtless  pleased 
Jackson. 


364  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

An  incident  exhibiting  Jackson's  kindness  of  heart  belai.gs 
to  this  period,  and  is  here  related  in  the  words  of  the  officer  who 
communicates  it : 

"In  November,  1862,  while  passing  through  Middletown, 
Va.,  General  Jackson,  with  his  staff — riding  some  two  or  three 
miles  in  front  of  his  army,  then  on  the  march  for  Fredericks- 
burg — met  a  very  old  woman  looking  for  her  grandson  who  was 
somewhere  in  the  army.  As  we  passed  she  hailed  the  General, 
saying : 

*'  'Are  you  Mr.  Jackson?' 

"  He  told  her  he  was,  and  asked  what  she  wanted. 

"  '  I  want  to  see  my  grandson,  George  Martin — he  belongs  to 
your  company.  I've  brought  him  these  clothes  and  victuals.' 

"  The  General  asked  her  what  regiment  her  grandson  was  in, 
but  she  could  not  tell.  She  did  not  know  what  company  he  was 
hi — the  name  of  his  captain — even  whether  he  was  a  private  or 
an  officer.  All  she  could  tell  was,  that  '  he  was  in  Mr.  Jackson's 
company.' 

"  In  her  disappointment  she  cried  : 

"  '  Why,  Mr.  Jackson,  don't  you  know  little  George  Martin? 
— George  Augustus  Martin  ?  He's  been  with  you  in  all  your 
battles  ;  and  they  say,'  she  added,  with  tears  streaming  down 
her  furrowed  cheeks,  '  that  he  fit  as  hard  as  the  best  of  them.' 

u  At  this  point  some  of  the  younger  members  of  the  staff 
laughed.  The  General  turned  around  quickly  with  his  brow 
contracted,  his  lips  compressed,  and  his  eyes  flashing  with  anger. 
He  looked  as  if  he  was  trying  to  find  the  guilty  one.  Dis- 
mounting from  his  horse,  and  approaching  the  old  woman,  he, 
in  the  kindest  manner  and  simplest  words,  explained  why  he  did 
not  know  her  grandson  ;  but  gave  her  such  simple  and  repeated 
directions  as  would  enable  her  to  find  him." 


CHANGE   OF   COMMANDERS.  365 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

CHANGE    OF    COMMANDERS. 

GENERAL  MCCLELLAN,  meanwhile,  advanced  toward  the 
Rappahannock,  and  his  various  columns  were  concentrating  at 
Warrenton,  when,  on  the  7th  of  November,  he  was,  without 
previous  notice,  relieved  of  his  command.  Such  was  the  sudden 
termination  of  the  active  career  of  an  officer  who  had  proved 
himself  the  most  formidable  adversary  of  the  South. 

The  plans  of  General  McClellan,  when  he  was  invested  with 
the  command  of  all  the  Federal  armies,  were  comprehensive, 
and  struck,  to  use  his  own  phrase,  "at  the  heart  of  the  rebel- 
lion." He  was  not  long  continued,  however,  in  the  supreme 
command,  and  was  sent  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  the 
Peninsula,  where  he  was  defeated,  but  by  his  excellent  general- 
ship saved  his  army  from  surrender  or  destruction.  Thence  he 
was  ordered  to  Washington,  and  his  abilities  seem  to  have  been 
recognized,  since,  after  the  defeat  of  General  Pope,  he  rose 
again,  as  by  right,  to  the  command  of  all  the  forces,  and  with  no 
orders  except  "  protect  the  capital "  commenced  offensive  opera- 
tions against  General  Lee.  The  result  was  the  battle  of  Sharps- 
burg,  by  which  the  advance  of  the  Confederate  commander  upon 
Pennsylvania  was  checked,  and  his  campaign  defeated.  To 
disappoint  the  plans  of  a  soldier  so  eminent  as  General  Lee  is  no 
small  proof  of  ability  in  the  commander  who  succeeds  in  so 
doing ;  and  the  movements  of  General  McClellan  subsequent  to 
the  battle  of  Sharpsburg  appear  to  have  been  able  and  judicious. 
He  moved  as  soon  as  he  could  into  Virginia,  and  his  plans 
seemed  excellently  devised,  when  he  was  suddenly  decapitated. 

The  explanation  of  this  sudden  withdrawal  of  confidence  on 
the  part  of  the  Federal  authorities  must  be  sought  for  in  the 
political  histories  of  this  period — it  forms  no  part  of  our  own 
subject 


366  LIFE    OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

General  McClellan  was  succeeded  by  General  Ambrose  E.. 
Burnside,  a  commander  of  some  reputation  but  moderate  abili 
ties,  who  is  reported  to  have  protested  against  his  appointment 
to  so  great  a  command  on  the  score  of  his  inability  to  administer 
it.  President  Lincoln,  however,  insisted,  and  General  Burnside 
assumed  the  direction  of  the  army  in  its  further  operations. 
The  result  of  affairs  at  Fredericksburg  subsequently  occasioned 
an  official  investigation  ;  and  from  General  Burnside's  testimony 
before  the  committee,  we  are  informed  of  his  designs  upon  as- 
suming command  of  the  Federal  army.  Finding  that  General 
Lee  confronted  him  in  the  upper  Rappahannock,  and  that  the 
way  was  barred  in  that  direction,  General  Burnside  conceived 
the  project  of  making  a  demonstration  in  front  of  Lee  to  engage 
his  attention,  and,  whilst  his  adversary  was  thus  amused,  of 
moving  his  main  body  rapidly  down  to  Fredericksburg,  where 
he  would  cross  and  turn  his  adversary's  flank.  Lee  would  thus 
be  forced  to  fall  back  for  the  protection  of  Richmond,  and  the 
Federal  army  would  move  rapidly  in  the  same  direction  in  pur- 
suit. 

This  plan  of  operations  at  once  commenced  by  a  feint  on  the 
upper  Rappahannock,  but  it  did  not  deceive  the  Confederate 
commander.  No  sooner  had  General  Burnside  put  his  main 
column  in  motion  toward  Fredericksburg,  than  General  Leer 
who  had  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Culpepper  Court-House 
watching  his  opponent,  made  a  corresponding  movement  across 
the  Rapidan.  General  McClellan  had  moved  rapidly  southward 
only  to  find  the  army  which  he  had  left  at  Winchester  facing 
him  in  front  of  Culpepper.  General  Burnside  now  no  sooner 
appeared  upon  the  hills  of  Stafford  near  Fredericksburg,  than 
he  discovered  on  the  high  ground  opposite  the  gray  lines  of  his 
adversary. 

The  intended  surprise  had  turned  out  a  failure  ;  and  from 
the  latter  part  of  November  when  these  movements  took  place, 
to  the  middle  of  December,  the  two  armies  remained  in  sight  of 
each  other,  divided  only  by  the  Rappahannock.  . 

The  large  Federal  camps  were  established  in  rear  of  the  hills 


CHANGE   OF   COMMANDERS.  367 

opposite  Fredericksburg,  and  their  earthworks  on  this  command- 
ing position  were  soon  mounted  with  heavy  artillery  intended  to 
cover  the  crossing  of  their  army.  From  "  Chatham"  and  other 
residences  overlooking  the  town,  General  Burnside  and  his 
officers  constantly  reconnoitred  the  Confederate  position — the 
pickets  dotting  the  banks  of  the  river  below,  from  above  Fal- 
mouth  to  Deep  Run.  The  river  was  thus  guarded  from  United 
States  ford,  near  the  confluence  of  the  Rappahannock  and  Rapi- 
dan,  to  Port  Royal,  twenty-two  miles  below  the  place. 

The  ground  around  Fredericksburg,  on  the  southern  side  of 
the  river,  was  well  adapted  to  the  repulse  of  an  attacking  force. 
From  a  point  just  above  the  town  and  immediately  upon  the 
stream,  commences  a  range  of  hills  which,  diverging  from  the 
river,  sweep  around  to  Hamilton's  crossing  on  the  Richmond 
and  Fredericksburg  Railroad  about  four  miles  below,  and  a  mile 
or  more  from  the  river.  The  ground  thus  enclosed  is  an  exten- 
sive plain,  through  which,  and  parallel  to  the  stream,  runs  the 
"  River  Road,"  a  broad  highway  skirted  with  cedars,  growing 
out  of  embankments,  serving  the  purpose  of  fences.  The  ditches 
formed  by  throwing  up  these  embankments  furnished  an  im- 
promptu species  of  intrenchmeut  which  shielded  the  Federal 
troops  in  no  small  degree  from  the  Southern  fire.  Through  the 
plain  described  wanders  a  small  stream  known  as  Deep  Run, 
with  precipitate  banks,  completely  sheltering  troops,  as  the 
stream  approaches  the  river. 

On  the  crest  of  hills  here  mentioned — extending  from  near 
Falmouth  to  the  crossing,  and  thickly  covered  throughout  nearly 
their  whole  extent  by  oaks,  edged  by  pine  thickets — the  Confeder- 
ate commander  had  formed  his  line  of  battle.  Longstreet's  corps 
held  the  left,  extending  from  the  river  to  a  point  about  midway 
the  length  of  the  range,  and  just  beyond  Deep  Run.  Jackson, 
who  had  remained  in  the  Valley  until  about  the  1st  of  December, 
when  he  rejoined  General  Lee,  held  the  right  of  the  line,  occupy- 
ing the  ground  from  Longstreet's  right  to  Hamilton's  crossing, 
where  the  range  of  hills  descends  into  the  plain.  On  the  ex- 
treme right,  in  the  extensive  plain  intersected  by  the  "  River 


368  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

Road  "  and  the  "  Old  Richmond  Road,"  running  from  the  cross- 
ing to  the  former,  General  Stuart  was  posted  with  his  cavalry 
and  horse  artillery  to  protect  Jackson's  flank,  which  it  was  proba- 
ble the  enemy  would  attempt  to  turn.  The  Massaponnax,  a 
small  stream  with  precipitate  banks,  formed  the  southern  and 
eastern  boundary  of  this  plain,  rendering  any  movement  of  the 
Federal  forces  beyond  General  Stuart's  right  impracticable. 

Such  was  the  disposition  of  General  Lee's  forces  to  repulse 
the  intended  advance  of  the  enemy. 


CHAPTER  XXVIH. 

FREDERICKSBURG. 

GENERAL  BURNSIDE  had  thus  completely  failed  in  his  design 
of  stealing  a  march  upon  his  opponent,  and  it  is  on  record  that 
he  was  greatly  opposed  to  attempting  the  passage  of  the  river  in 
the  face  of  Lee.  The  Federal  authorities,  however,  had  set 
their  hearts  upon  striking  a  heavy  blow  before  the  spring,  and 
General  Burnside  reluctantly  acquiesced  in  a  project  which  did 
not  receive  the  approval  of  his  military  judgment. 

Up  to  the  llth  of  December,  no  movement  of  any  import- 
ance had  taken  place,  though  the  enemy  had  made  numerous 
attempts  to  produce  the  impression  that  they  intended  to  cross 
below  or  above,  not  at  Fredericksburg.  Their  troops  were  seen 
moving  to  and  fro  on  the  Stafford  hills  opposite,  and  the  river 
bank  was  heavily  picketed  along  the  entire  front. 

The  Confederate  Generals  awaited  the  threatened:  movement 
with  confidence,  and  a  well-grounded  belief  that  in  spite  of  the 
numbers  of  the  Federal  army,  and  the  presence  of  such  able 
soldiers  as  Sumner,  Franklin,  Hooker,  and  others  in  command 
of  grand  divisions,  they  would  be  able  to  repulse  any  attack. 

It  would  seem  that  the  enemy  were,  on  their  side,  equally 
confident.  The  dismissal  of  General  McClellan  had  been  very 


FREDEEICKSBUEG.  369 

distasteful  to  the  troops,  but  they  were  thoroughly  disciplined, 
and  ready  to  fight  under  any  one  ;  and  the  Northern  journals, 
extensively  circulated  among  their  camps,  had  sedulously  instilled 
the  conviction  that  the  "  On  to  Richmond"  movement  was  now 
certain  of  success. 

The  Confederate  commander  finally  received  reliable  intelli- 
gence that  the  enemy  had  finished  their  preparations  for  crossing, 
and  were  putting  their  troops  in  motion. 

Before  daylight  on  the  morning  of  Thursday,  December  llth, 
they  commenced  throwing  two  pontoons  across  at  Fredericks- 
burg,  one  above,  the  other  below  the  destroyed  railroad  bridge. 
While  engaged  in  this  attempt,  and  swarming  upon  the  boats,  a 
destructive  fire  was  opened  upon  them  from  the  southern  bank 
of  the  river,  where  Brigadier-General  Barksdale  was  posted 
with  his  Mississippians,  and  this  fire  was  so  hot,  that  it  at  first 
drove  the  enemy  back.  They  quickly  renewed  the  attempt, 
however,  and  pushed  on  the  work,  in  spite  of  the  hail-storm  of 
bullets  from  Barksdale,  whose  troops  fought  with  desperation. 
The  heavy  fog  slowly  lifted  from  the  scene,  and  then  commenced, 
and  was  kept  up  all  day,  one  of  the  most  determined  bombard- 
ments known  in  history.  The  enemy  had  planted  more  than  a 
hundred  pieces  of  artillery  on  the  hills  to  the  northern  and  east- 
ern  side  of  the  town,  and  from  an  early  hour  in  the  forenoon, 
swept  the  streets  with  round  shot,  shell,  and  case  shot — firing 
frequently  a  hundred  guns  a  minute.  The  quick  puffs  of 
smoke,  touched  in  the  centre  with  tongues  of  flame,  ran  inces- 
santly along  the  lines  of  their  batteries  on  the  slopes,  and  as  the 
smoke  slowly  drifted  away,  the  bellowing  roar  came  up  in  one 
continuous  roll.  The  town  was  soon  fired,  and  a  dense  cloud  of 
smoke  enveloped  its  roofs  and  steeples.  The  white  church 
spires  still  rose  serenely  aloft,  defying  shot  or  shell,  though 
a  portion  of  one  of  them  was  torn  off.  The  smoke  was  succeeded 
by  lurid  flame,  and  the  crimson  mass  brought  to  mind  the  pictures 
of  Moscow  burning. 

This  incessant  fire  of  heavy  artilldry  on  the  town  was  kept 
up  from  daylight  until  dark.  Barksdale's  troops  continued  tn 
24 


370  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

hold  the  place  in  spite  of  the  terrible  enfilading  fire  sweeping  the 
streets  with  round  shot,  grape,  and  shell,  so  as  to  command  every 
foot  of  ground  in  the  town.  Amid  houses  torn  to  pieces,  and 
burning,  crashing  chimneys,  and  falling  walls  which  buried  men 
beneath  them,  the  Mississippians  maintained  their  position. 
When  night  descended,  the  flames  of  burning  houses  still  lit  up 
the  landscape,  and  though  the  continuous  roar  of  the  batteries 
was  hushed,  a  sullen  gun  at  intervals  resembled  the  hoarse 
growl  of  a  wild  animal  who  retires  with  reluctance  from  his  prey. 

The  result  of  this  bombardment  was  cruel,  and  the  scenes 
which  followed  it  sufficient  to  excite  the  sensibilities  of  the  most 
hard-hearted.  Men,  women,  and  children  had  been  driven  from 
the  town  ;  and  hundreds  of  ladies  and  children  were  seen  wan- 
dering homeless  and  without  shelter  over  the  frozen  highway, 
with  bare  feet  and  thin  clothing,  knowing  not  where  to  find  a 
place  of  refuge.  Delicately  nurtured  girls,  upon  whose  frail 
forms  no  rain  had  ever  beat,  and  whom  no  wind  had  visited  too 
roughly,  walked  hurriedly,  with  unsteady  feet,  over  the  various 
roads,  seeking  some  friendly  roof  to  cover  them.  Whole  families 
sought  sheds  by  the  wayside,  or  made  temporary  shelters  of  fence- 
rails  and  straw,  knowing  not  whither  to  fly.  Such  were  the  cruel 
results  of  the  cannonade.  Night  had  settled  down ;  the  shat- 
tered houses  were  visible  only  when  the  flames  of  the  burning 
buildings  soared  up  suddenly  as  they  caught  some  new  object ; 
and  the  enemy  held  the  place.  Barksdale  had  fallen  back, 
fighting  from  street  to  street  until  he  reached  the  suburbs,  where, 
posting  his  troops  behind  a  stone  wall,  he  held  his  ground,  and 
no  further  attack  was  made  on  him. 

When  the  morning  of  Friday  the  12th  dawned,  the  enemy 
had  thrown  across  additional  pontoons,  and  their  army  was 
nearly  over.  As  yet  they  had  not  been  saluted  by  a  single  shot 
from  the  Confederate  artillery ;  and  they  no  doubt  felicitated 
themselves,  in  a  very  high  degree,  upon  this  circumstance. 
Thus  Friday  ended — the  night  passed — the  great  day  arrived. 

General  Lee  had  disposed  his  forces  in  the  manner  already  in- 
dicated. Longstreet's  corps  was  posted  on  the  left,  with  strong 


FKEDEKICKSBUKG.  371 

batteries  along  the  hills  by  Marye's  house.  Jackson  held  the 
right,  with  General  A.  P.  Hill  in  front  and  near  Hamilton's 
crossing ;  General  Taliaferro,  commanding  Jackson's  old  division, 
in  his  rear  ;  and  General  D.  H.  Hill,  behind  the  crest  of  hills,  in 
reserve.  On  the  slope  of  the  hill,  just  where  it  descends  tow- 
ard the  crossing,  Colonel  Lindsay  Walker  was  posted,  with 
Pegram's,  Mclntosh's,  and  sections  of  Crenshaw's,  Latham's, 
and  Johnson's  batteries — 14  guns.  On  the  left  of  the  line,  near 
the  Bernard  cabins,  Captain  Davidson  was  stationed,  with 
Rains',  Caskie's,  Braxton's,  and  Davidson's  batteries — 21  guns. 
To  the  right,  and  two  hundred  yards  in  advance  of  these,  Cap- 
tain Brockenbrough  commanded  Carpenter's,  Wooding's,  and 
Braxton's  batteries — 12  guns.  On  Jackson's  left  was  the  right 
of  General  Longstreet,  under  Hood ;  and  this  was  just  at  the 
centre  of  the  whole  line.  On  the  extreme  right,  as  we  have 
said,  beyond  Hamilton's  crossing,  in  the  extensive  plain,  diversi- 
fied by  woods,  General  Stuart  had  drawn  up  his  cavalry  and 
horse  artillery,  ready  to  assist  in  repulsing  the  attack  upon  what 
was  felt  to  be  the  weakest  portion  of  the  line. 

Soon  after  daybreak  on  the  13th  the  troops  were  all  in  po- 
sition, and  General  Lee  rode  along  the  lines,  accompanied  by 
General  Jackson,  to  inspect  in  person  the  disposition  of  the 
forces.  On  the  old  "  Richmond  road,"  leading  from  the  crossing 
to  the  Bowling  Green  or  river  road,  General  Stuart  joined 
them,  and  they  proceeded  to  the  outer  picket  lines,  close  on  the 
enemy.  The  movement  had  already  begun,  and  the  Federal 
forces  were  seen  advancing  across  the  bottom  directly  upon  Gen- 
eral Jackson's  position.  By  direction  of  General  Stuart,  Major 
John  Pelham,  of  the  Stuart  Horse  Artillery,  immediately  brought 
up  a  Napoleon  gun,  and  opened  on  their  left  flank ;  three  bat- 
teries replied,  and  for  many  hours  this  one  gun  fought  them  all 
with  unyielding  firmness.  Major  Pelham  and  Captain  Henry, 
who  both  superintended  the  working  of  the  piece,  were  publicly 
complimented,  and  their  obstinate  stand,  in  an  important  position, 
unquestionably  had  a  most  valuable  part  in  demoralizing  the 
Federal  forces. 


372  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

Soon  after  daylight  the  enemy  began  to  feel  General  Lee's 
position  from  left  to  right  with  infantry  and  artillery.  The  Fed- 
eral commander  seemed  to  be  undecided  in  his  plans,  and  exhib- 
ited no  powers  of  combination  or  manoeuvring.  The  lines  were 
pushed  forward,  then  drawn  back,  and  the  only  Federal  arm 
that  seemed  efficiently  handled  was  the  artillery.  This  was 
fought  with  great  skill  and  effect  during  the  entire  battle,  and 
inflicted  severe  loss  upon  the  Confederates.  The  accuracy  of  their 
fire  was  remarkable.  The  writer  of  this,  who  was  present  on  the 
right,  recalls  an  instance.  A  Blakely  gun  opened  fire  upon  the 
Federal  batteries,  when  one  of  their  guns  replied  like  an  echo  ;  a 
round  shot  crashed  among  the  canonneers,  and  a  boy  exclaimed 
to  General  Stuart  who  was  sitting  upon  his  horse  near  by, 
"  General,  their  very  first  shot  has  killed  two  men  !  " 

About  ten  o'clock  the  fog  lifted,  and  the  enemy  were  seen 
approaching  in  heavy  force,  about  55,000  troops  having  been 
concentrated  against  the  Confederate  right.  They  were  com- 
manded by  Generals  Franklin  and  Hooker,  whose  orders  were 
to  gain  possession  of  the  old  "  Richmond  road,"  turn  the  crest 
of  hills  at  Hamilton's  crossing,  and  assail  the  Confederate  right 
flank.  Encouraged  by  the  silence  of  the  Confederate  batteries, 
the  enemy  pushed  forward  directly  upon  Walker's  position,  and 
were  suffered  to  come  within  eight  hundred  yards  before  a  gun 
was  fired.  When  they  had  reached  that  point,  however,  four- 
teen guns  opened  suddenly,  and  completely  broke  and  repulsed 
them.  No  troops  could  stand  before  the  iron  storm  tearing 
through  their  ranks,  and  General  Franklin  could  not  imme- 
diately re-form  his  men  and  bring  them  again  to  the  assault. 

About  one  o'clock,  however,  another  attempt  was  made  to 
carry  the  position — this  time  preceded  by  a  heavy  fire  of  artil- 
lery directed  against  Colonel  Walker  and  General  A.  P.  Hill. 
Walker  opened  all  his  batteries  in  response,  and  was  assisted  by 
Pelham  on  the  right.  The  Federal  forces,  consisting  of  Frank- 
lin's and  Hooker's  grand  divisions,  were  evidently  staggered  by 
the  terrible  fire ;  but  re-forming,  pressed  on  and  closed  in  upon 
A.  P.  Hill  in  a  fierce  and  bloody  struggle.  An  interval  had 


FREDERICKSBURG.  373 

been  left  between  Archer's  and  Lane's  brigades,  and  of  this  the 
enemy  took  instant  advantage.  Pressing  forward,  Hill's  line 
was  penetrated;  Lane's  right  and  Archer's  left  turned;  and 
they  were  forced  to  fall  back.  Gaining  thus  a  position  in  rear 
of  that  occupied  by  Lane  and  Archer,  the  enemy  attacked 
Gregg's  brigade;  and  in  this  contest  General  Gregg,  while 
attempting  to  rally  Orr's  Rifles,  which  had  given  way,  fell  mor- 
tally wounded. 

Seeing  that  his  first  line  was  rapidly  being  forced  back  by 
the  overwhelming  numbers  brought  against  it,  General  Jackson 
now  ordered  up  his  second  line,  consisting  of  the  commands  of 
Lawton,  Early,  Trimble,  and  Taliaferro.  Their  appearance 
upon  the  scene  changed  every  thing.  In  a  brief  but  decisive 
combat  they  repulsed  the  enemy,  and,  following  up  their  advan- 
tage, drove  him  with  great  slaughter  to  the  railroad  in  front  of 
the  first  position,  taking  a  number  of  prisoners.  So  far  was  the 
pursuit  carried,  that  Jackson's  forces  came  within  close  range  of 
the  Federal  artillery,  and  full  upon  their  strong  reserves  of  infan- 
try. The  ground  was  not  yielded,  however,  on  that  account ;  and 
finding  that  the  enemy  did  not  advance,  General  Jackson 
determined  to  do  so  himself.  Their  artillery  was  so  posted  as 
to  render  the  movement  an  extremely  hazardous  one,  but  the 
stake  was  great,  and  Jackson  determined  to  take  the  risks,  and 
if  possible  put  the  force  of  the  enemy  directly  opposed  to  him  to 
complete  rout.  Those  who  saw  him  at  that  hour,  will  never 
forget  the  expression  of  intense  but  suppressed  excitement 
which  his  face  displayed.  The  genius  of  battle  seemed  to  have 
gained  possession  of  the  great  leader,  ordinarily  so  calm ;  and 
his  countenance  glowed  as  from  the  glare  of  a  great  conflagra- 
tion. His  design  was  to  place  his  artillery  in  front,  draw  up 
the  infantry  in  rear  of  it,  and  make  the  movement  just  as  night 
descended,  so  that  if  necessary  he  might  fall  back  under  the  cov- 
er of  darkness.  This  design  was  destined,  however,  not  to  be 
carried  into  execution.  Delay  occurred  in  making  the  necessary 
preparations,  and  when,  finally,  the  first  guns  moved  forward, 
the  enemy,  evidently  fearing  such  a  movement,  opened  a 


374:  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

terrific  fire  of  artillery,  which  caused  the  abandonment  of  the 
project. 

We  have  neglected  to  speak  of  the  events  which  occurred  on 
General  Jackson's  right.  The  batteries  there  were  a  part  of  his 
command,  though  directed  by  General  Stuart,  and  throughout 
the  day  fought  with  unyielding  obstinacy.  The  enemy  handled 
their  guns  with  skill  and  nerve ;  and  their  immense  reserves 
were  brought  up  and  put  into  action — but  they  were  encoun- 
tered and  silenced.  The  duel  between  the  opposing  batteries 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  day  was  superb.  Colonel  "Walker 
Was  exposed,  from  the  position  of  his  guns,  to  a  destructive  fire 
from  the  Federal  batteries,  and  the  Confederate  artillery  in  the 
fields  beyond  Hamilton's  crossing  was  the  target  for  their 
heaviest  guns,  both  on  the  south  and  north  side  of  the  river. 

Toward  evening  the  battle  in  this  part  of  the  field  became 
desperate.  The  enemy  fought  their  artillery  admirably,  and 
never  was  their  enormous  strength  in  that  arm  more  thoroughly 
displayed.  Every  species  of  projectile  known  to  modern  war- 
fare was  rained  upon  the  fields,  from  guns  of  every  calibre  and 
"description,  and  in  this  cannonade  the  heavy  siege  pieces  on  the 
heights  beyond  the  river  bore  an  important  part.  The  attempt 
of  General  Franklin  to  turn  the  Confederate  right  was  supported 
.in  the  most  effective  manner  by  his  artillery,  and  the  fire  be- 
came appalling.  It  was  delivered  parallel  to  the  railroad,  and 
the  Federal  sharpshooters  from  the  ditches  poured  a  galling  fire 
into  the  Confederate  cannoneers.  The  batteries  which  opposed 
the  Federal  guns  were  those  of  Pegram,  Latham,  Crenshaw, 
Johnson,  Mclntosh,  Braxton,  Letcher,  and  others.  To  these 
were  subsequently  added  the  2d  and  3d  companies  of  Richmond 
howitzers,  the  first  company  being  engaged  on  the  left — the  Staun- 
ton  Artillery,  Lieutenant  Garber,  a  section  of  Poague's  battery, 
Lieutenant  Graham,  Caskie's,  Hardaway's,  Louisiana  Guard 
Artillery,  Captain  D'Aquin,  and  others — all  under  the  command 
of  Major  Pelham,  who  fought  them  with  soldierly  skill  and 
•coolness.  The  whole  of  the  artillery  on  the  right,  including 
Captain  Henry's  Horse  Artillery,  of  Major  Pelham's  battalion, 


FKEDERICKSBURG.  375 

was  under  the  immediate  direction  of  General  Stuart,  who  was 
everywhere  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight — the  target  of  artillery 
and  sharpshooters  alike.  The  latter  had  posted  themselves  two 
or  three  hundred  yards  off,  behind  a  hedge,  and  no  doubt 
attracted  by  the  plume  and  uniform  of  a  general  officer,  directed 
their  fire  upon  him,  striking  him  twice,  but  not  doing  him 
injury.  Meanwhile,  the  batteries  never  for  an  instant  relaxed 
in  their  fire.  All  through  the  afternoon  they  continued  the  fight,, 
those  which  were  disabled  or  out  of  ammunition  retiring,  to  be 
replaced  by  others. 

Just  at  sunset  Stuart  ordered  all  his  batteries  to  advance.. 
This  was  done  in  consequence  of  a  message  from  Jackson  that 
"  he  was  going  to  advance  and  attack  the  enemy  precisely  at 
sunset,  and  General  Stuart  was  desired  to  advance  his  artillery 
and  fire  as  rapidly  as  possible,  taking  care  not  to  injure  the 
troops  as  they  attacked."  This  order  was  promptly  obeyed. 
Stuart  took  up  a  position  so  much  in  advance  as  to  be  almost  on. 
the  flank  of  the  Federal  line,  not  five  hundred  yards  distant,  and 
opened  a  more  rapid  and  determined  fire  than  before.  When 
General  "W.  H.  F.  Lee,  one  of  his  cavalry  officers,  sent  to  ascer-i. 
tain  how  matters  were  going  on,  Stuart  replied,  "  Tell  General  Lee 
that  all  is  right.  Jackson  has  not  advanced,  but  I  have  ;  and  I 
am  going  to  crowd  them  with  artillery."  This  was  boldly  and 
effectually  done,  and  the  result  was  apparent.  The  Federal  fire 
slackened,  then  ceased ;  and  when  General  Stuart's  voice,  in  the 
darkness,  ordered  a  new  advance  toward  the  Bowling  Green 
road,  no  response  could  be  elicited  from  their  guns,  and  the- 
Confederates  remained  masters  of  the  field.* 

*  The  force  which  operated  against  the  Confederate  right  hi  this  action, 
is  stated  to  have  been,  as  we  have  said,  on  Federal  authority,  55,000  men. 
This  is  not  improbable,  as  the  bulk  of  the  United  States,  forces  was  used  in, 
this  important  assault.  The  army  consisted  of  the  1st,  2d,  3d,  5th,  6th,  9th, 
and  llth  Corps;  and  if  these  were  recruited  to  the  full  number  they  possessed 
by  General  McClellan's  statement,  at  Sharpsburg,  it  would  bring  the  Federal 
force,  exclusive  of  the  3d,  llth,  and  one  division  of  the  5th  Corps,  to  72,71,8 
men.  As  the  llth  was  a  corps  of  reserve,  the  Federal,  force  was  probably 


376  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

On  the  left  a  similar  result  followed  the  assault  upon  Marye'i 
Hill.  In  this  fierce  and  determined  attack,  which  was  made  by 
Meagher's  brigade,  composed  chiefly  of  Irish,  the  Federal  loss 
was  frightful.  The  troops  were  compelled  to  cross  the  open  ground 
between  the  suburbs  of  the  town  and  the  base  of  the  hill,  and 
while  doing  so  were  subjected  to  a  close  and  deadly  fire  from 
Cobb's  and  Cooke's  brigades,  posted  behind  the  stone  wall  at 
the  foot  of  the  heights,  and  from  Colonel  Walton's  artillery  in 
the  earthworks  above.  This  combined  fire  of  bullets  and  can- 
ister drove  them  back,  but  they  again  charged.  The  result 
was  the  same — they  were  again  repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  and 
were  forced  to  fall  back,  with  shattered  ranks,  to  the  protection 
of  the  houses.  In  this  struggle  General  Cobb  was  killed  and 
General  Cooke  severely  wounded,  nearly  at  the  same  moment. 

Such  was  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  It  is  remarkable  for 
the  small  proportion  of  Confederate  troops  engaged,  and  for  the 
bad  fighting  of  the  Federal  forces.  The  explanation  of  the  latter 
fact  must  be  left  to  conjecture,  but  with  the  exception  of 
Meagher's  brigade,  no  portion  of  the  Federal  infantry  seems  to 
have  acted  with  their  customary  efficiency.  The  charge  upon 
Jackson  seemed  hot  and  determined,  but  in  spite  of  the  heavy 
force  engaged  in  it — 55.000  men,  by  General  Burnside's  state- 
ment— it  was  repulsed  without  difficulty  by  Jackson's  first  and 
second  lines,  certainly  falling  short  of  15,000  troops;  The 
Federal  forces  seemed  to  fight  without  enthusiasm  or  confidence 
m  their  leaders.  They  bad  lost  morale  from  some  reason  ;  and 
so  easily  was  their  advance  repulsed,  that  General  Lee  regarded 
the  affair  as  nothing  more  than  a  heavy  demonstration  to  feel 
his  position,  not  a  definite  trial  of  strength  with  the  whole 
Federal  army.  From  the  hill  above  Hamilton's  crossing,  iu 
company  with  Jackson,  General  Lee  witnessed,  on  the  next 
(Sunday)  morning,  the  imposing  spectacle  of  the  Federal  army 
drawn  up  in  battle  array,  with  banners  flying,  as  though  about 
lo  advance  to  the  assault ;  but  that  assault  was  not  to  take  place. 

not  far  short  of  100,000  troops.    General  Lee's  numbers  are  not  known  to  the 
present  writer. 


FEEDEKICKSBUKG.  377 

The  explanation  of  the  fact  will  be  found  in  an  extract  from 
General  Burnside's  testimony  before  the  subsequent  Committee 
of  Investigation,  in  which  he  states  both  his  plan  of  attack  and 
the  considerations  which  induced  him  to  abandon  all  further  de- 
signs of  carrying  the  heights  occupied  by  the  Confederates. 

"  The  enemy,"  said  General  Burnside,  "  had  cut  a  road  along 
the  rear  of  the  line  of  heights,  where  we  made  our  attack,  by 
means  of  which  they  connected  the  two  wings  of  their  army,  and 
avoided  a  long  detour  round  through  a  bad  country. 

"  I  obtained  from  a  colored  man  from  the  other  side  of  the 
town,  information  in  regard  to  this  new  road,  which  proved  to 
be  correct.  I  wanted  to  obtain  possession  of  that  new  road,  and 
that  was  my  reason  for  making  an  attack  on  the  extreme  left. 
I  did  not  intend  to  make  the  attack  on  the  right  until  that  posi- 
tion had  been  taken,  which  I  supposed  would  stagger  the  enemy 
by  cutting  their  line  in  two,  and  then  I  proposed  to  make  a 
direct  attack  on  their  front  and  drive  them  out  of  the  works. 

"  I  succeeded  in  building  six  bridges,  and  in  taking  the  whole 
army  across.  The  two  attacks  were  made,  and  we  were  repulsed 
— still  holding  a  portion  of  the  ground  we  had  fought  upon,  but 
not  our  extreme  advance.  That  night  I  went  all  over  the  field 
on  our  right.  In  fact,  I  was  with  the  officers  and  men  until  day- 
light. I  found  the  feeling  to  be  rather  against  an  attack  the 
next  morning.  In  fact,  it  was  decidedly  against  it. 

"  I  returned  to  my  headquarters,  and  after  a  conversation 
with  General  Sumner,  told  him  that  I  wanted  him  to  order  the 
9th  Army  Corps,  which  was  the  corps  I  originally  commanded, 
to  form  the  next  morning  a  column  of  attack  by  regiments.  It 
consisted  of  some  eighteen  old  regiments  and  some  new  ones, 
and  desired  the  column  to  make  a  direct  attack  upon  the  enemy's 
works.  I  thought  that  these  regiments,  by  driving  quickly  up 
after  each  other,  would  be  able  to  carry  the  stone  wall  and  the 
batteries  in  front,  forcing  the  enemy  into  their  next  line,  and  by 
joining  in  with  them  they  would  not  be  able  to  fire  upon  us  to 
any  great  extent.  I  left  General  Sumner  with  that  understand- 
ing,  and  directed  him  to  give  the  order 


378  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

u  The  order  was  given,  and  the  order  of  attack  was  formed. 
On  the  next  morning,  just  before  the  column  was  to  have  started, 
General  Sumner  came  up  to  me  and  said :  '  General,  I  hope 
you  will  desist  from  this  attack.  I  do  not  know  of  any  general 
officer  who  approves  of  it,  and  I  think  it  will  prove  disastrous  to 
the  army.'  Advice  of  that  kind  from  General  Sumner,  who 
has  always  been  in  favor  of  our  advancing  whenever  it  wa* 
possible,  caused  me  to  hesitate.  I  kept  the  column  of  attack 
formed,  and  sent  over  for  the  division  and  corps  commanders- 
and  consulted  with  them.  They  unanimously  voted  against  the 
attack.  I  then  went  over  to  see  the  officers  of  the  command  on 
the  other  side,  and  found  that  the  same  opinion  prevailed 
among  them. 

"  I  then  sent  for  General  Franklin,  who  was  on  the  left,  and 
he  was  of  exactly  the  same  opinion.  This  caused  me  to  decide 
that  I  ought  not  to  make  the  attack  I  had  contemplated  ;  and  be- 
sides, inasmuch  as  the  President  of  the  United  States  had  told 
me  not  to  be  in  haste  in  making  this  attack — that  he  would 
give  me  all  the  support  he  could,  but  he  did  not  want  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  destroyed — I  felt  that  I  could  not  take  the  re- 
sponsibility of  ordering  the  attack,  notwithstanding  my  own  be- 
lief at  the  time  that  the  works  of  the  enemy  could  be  carried. 

"  In  the  afternoon  of  that  day  I  again  saw  the  officers,  and 
told  them  that  I  had  decided  to  withdraw  to  this  side  of  the  river 
all  our  forces,  except  enough  to  hold  the  town  and  the  bridge 
heads,  but  should  keep  the  bridges  there  for  future  operations  in 
case  we  wanted  to  cross  again." 

It  was  determined,  however,  by  the  advice  of  General 
Hooker,  not  to  attempt  to  hold  the  town  even,  and  on  Monday 
night  the  Federal  army  commenced  recrossing  the  river.  By 
Tuesday  morning  the  forces  had  disappeared  from  the  south 
bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  General  Burnside's  was  another 
name  added  to  the  list  of  Federal  generals  who  had  suffered  de- 
feat at  the  hands  of  Lee  and  Jackson. 


GENERAL   BURNSIDE   ATTEMPTS   A   LAST   ADVANCE.      379 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

GENERAL    BURNSIDE   ATTEMPTS   A    LAST    ADVANCE. 

WE  have  not  described  the  excesses  which  the  Federal  offi- 
cers permitted  the  troops  to  commit  in  Fredericksburg — the 
burning  of  houses,  the  rifling  of  wardrobes,  and  the  general 
spoliation  of  private  property.  These  scenes,  of  the  tragic  and 
grotesque  mingled — for  men  were  found  dead  after  Meagher's 
charge,  with  women's  shawls  and  bonnets  on — would  take  up  too 
much  space,  and  excite,  only  disgust.  They  will  doubtless  be  re- 
corded by  local  historians  in  the  future,  and  will  remain  a  dark 
portion  of  the  great  picture  of  the  recent  struggle. 

We  pass  to  General  Burnside's  final  effort  to  gain  a  foothold 
south  of  the  Rappahannock.  In  the  latter  part  of  January,  the 
Federal  commander  massed  his  army  opposite  Banks'  ford,  sev- 
eral miles  above  Fredericksburg,  and  the  troops  were  already  in 
motion  to  attempt  the  crossing  of  the  river,  when  the  weather 
suddenly  changed,  and  torrents  of  rain  descended  upon  the  army. 

The  fate  of  any  movement  at  this  most  unpropitious  of  sea- 
sons, was  soon  shown.  General  Burnside  was  literally  stuck  in 
the  mud,  and  could  not  carry  out  his  projected  advance.  The 
movement  is  described  so  vividly  in  army  letters  written  to 
Northern  journals  at  the  period,  that  we  shall  make  one  or  two 
extracts,  and  then  dismiss  the  subject.  One  correspondent  writes  : 

"  Within  a  space  of  two  miles  the  scene  of  confusion  was 
greatest.  In  a  deep  gully,  and  on  a  hill-side,  where  the  road 
ascended,  where  stuck  fast  more  than  a  dozen  guns,  caissons, 
brigade  wagons,  and  great  headquarter  wagons.  The  guns  and 
pontoons  were  three  days  in  reaching  the  ford,  and  had  to  be 
dragged  by  united  labor  of  men  and  horses,  when  it  was  discov- 
ered that  approaches  to  the  river  were  impracticable.  The  mud 
in  the  freshly-cut  roads  was  too  deep.  The  men  got  in  sight, 
they  said,  of  rebel  camp-fires. 


380  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

"At  every  turn  or  rise  on  the  road  a  wagon  or  caisson  could 
be  seen  sticking  fast  in  the  mud ;  horses  and  mules  were  down 
in  the  mire,  unable  to  rise.  In  every  gully  batteries,  caissons, 
supply-wagons,  ambulances,  and  pontoons  were  mired ;  horses 
and  mules  up  to  their  bellies  in  mud ;  soldiers  on  the  march 
sinking  to  their  knees  at  almost  every  step.  It  was  impossible 
to  draw  an  empty  wagon  through  the  dreadful  mud.  The  whole 
army  was  stuck  fast." 

Another  correspondent  gives  a  minute  picture  of  the  attempt- 
ed advance,  and  of  the  feeling  of  the  troops.  He  says  : 

"The  march  of  the  army  to  this  place  has  been  gloomy 
enough.  The  severest  storm  of  the  season  has  continued  since 
early  Tuesday  evening  until  to-day.  This  afternoon  there  are 
signs  of  sunshine  again.  Of  course  the  inclement  weather  render- 
ed army  operations  upon  any  very  extensive  scale  wholly  imprac- 
ticable. The  execution  of  the  orders  for  an  advance  would  have 
been  poorly  enough  in  the  finest  weather,  for,  as  I  told  you  be- 
fore, the  army  has  lost  its  prestige ;  the  soldier  no  longer  thinks 
it  an  honor  to  belong  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  As  an  illus- 
tration of  the  feeling  prevalent  among  the  officers,  I  will  say 
that  when  General  Burnside's  order,  which  you  have  no  doubt 
already  published,  was  read,  the  inquiry  was  made  by  an  officer, 
'  What  do  you  think  of  it? ' 

"  '  General,  it  don't  seem  to  have  the  ring,'  was  the  response. 

" '  No,  sir,  the  bell  is  broken,'  said  the  General. 

"Not  that  he  meant  any  want  of  confidence  in  General 
Burnside ;  but  the  bell  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  is  sadly 
fractured,  and  its  tones  have  no  longer  the  clear  ^  inspiring  ring 
of  victory.  But  I  do  not  need  to  refer  to  the  condition  of  the 
army  at  greater  length.  Every  phase  you  can  get  will  reveal  the 
same  truth,  which  is  well  understood  here  and  at  Washington., 

"  All  day  on  Wednesday  the  men  dragged  their  feet  from 
one  mud  footstep  to  fathom  another  still  more  uncertain,  and 
picked  their  way  along  the  skirts  of  woods  and  fields  and  the 
edge  of  the  road  to  keep  as  sound  footing  as  possible.  The  cold 
rain  poured  in  torrents. 


GENEKAL    BURNSIDE   ATTEMPTS    A-  LAST  ADVANCE.      381 

"  The  mules  and  horses,  already  worn  to  hide  and  bone  with 
«old  and  starvation,  floundered  and  trembled  in  the  uncertain 
ruts  and  deceptive  mud  pools.  Teamsters  and  riders  cursed  and 
lashed  their  beasts,  but  to  no  avail.  At  two  o'clock  pontoons 
and  guns  and  caissons,  ammunition  wagons  and  ambulances 
were  promiscuously  mixed  and  interspersed  in  one  long  line, 
where  the  mire  was  momentarily  growing  deeper  and  the  dark- 
uess  of  night  approaching.  Each  general  and  commanding  offi- 
cer whose  business  it  was,  were  exerting  themselves  to  their  ufc- 
most  to  get  the  teams  along.  Some  generals  covered  with  mire 
personally  directed  the  drivers  and  the  squads  of  men  who 
manned  long  drag-ropes  and  assisted  the  horses  in  moving  the 
heavy  loads. 

"  At  the  front  the  same  state  of  affairs  was  observed.  If  the 
pontoons  had  been  up  on  Tuesday ;  yes,  if  the  army  had  moved 
when  the  order  was  first  given,  when  the  roads  were  dry  and  hard, 
instead  of  waiting  a  week,  until  the  enemy  had  learned  of  the  move 
and  of  its  destination,  and  the  utmost  reasonable  expectations  of 
continued  fair  weather  had  passed,  the  march  would  have  been  fine 
and  the  crossing  would  have  been  easy.  The  place  selected  had 
all  the  advantages  that  could  be  asked,  and  to  the  rebels  disad- 
vantages which  would  have  given  us  easy  success.  I  forbear 
giving  you  the  particulars  of  the  location  and  preparations  for 
crossing,  as  well  as  the  strength  of  the  army,  guns,  and  such  ar- 
rangements, as  they  may  be  secrets  which  would  give  the  enemy 
an  advantage  should  General  Burnside  return  to  the  attack  at 
this  point  when  the  roads  are  dry  and  troops  rested. 

"  It  had  been  contemplated  to  cross  at  several  points,  but  the 
difficulty  of  moving  pontoon  trains  and  guns  compelled  the  aban- 
donment of  all  but  one  place,  and  the  concentration  of  men  and 
trains  at  that  on  "Wednesday  night.  In  fact,  I  suspect  the  pur- 
pose of  crossing  had  been  abandoned  by  General  Burnside  at 
that  time,  and  the  troops  and  munitions  were  concentrated  for 
safety  and  convenience.  The  troops  encamped  in  the  splendid 
growths  of  oaks,  and  the  number  of  axes  plying,  and  general 
1mm  of  life  and  activity,  impressed  one  with  the  idea  of  stepping 


382  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

into  an  immense  ship-yard  under  full  blast.  The  great  blazing 
log  fires  soon  warmed  the  wet  garments,  and  the  men  slept 
soundly. 

"  On  Thursday  the  order  was  circulated  to  stop  the  further 
advance  of  troops  and  wagons  and  batteries  not  yet  up.  The 
cavalry  in  part  returned  to  their  old  camps.  Light  artillery  was 
also  sent  back,  and  order  sent  to  General  Sumner's  grand  divi- 
sion, which  had  not  yet  moved,  postponing  indefinitely  the  orders 
to  be  ready." 

"  The  bell  is  broken" — such  was  the  figure  employed  to  de- 
scribe  the  depressed  condition  of  the  Federal  troops  at  this  time. 
At  the  risk  of  wearying  the  reader  we  shall  add  another  para- 
graph upon  the  same  subject,  which  finishes  the  picture.  It  is- 
taken  from  the  New  York  ;'  Times,"  and  the  article  from  which 
it  is  extracted  is  said  to  have  greatly  enraged  General  Halleck 
at  the  time  when  it  was  published : 

"  Sad,  sad  it  is  to  look  at  this  superb  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
the  match  of  which  no  conqueror  ever  led — this  incomparable 
army,  fit  to  perform  the  mission  the  country  has  imposed  upon  it 
— paralyzed,  petrified,  put  under  a  blight  and  spell ;  and  on  the 
other  hand  the  noble  nation  bleeding  to  death  and  pouring  out 
the  rich  wine  of  its  life  in  vain. 

"  But  the  root  of  the  matter  is  a  distrust  of  the  general  con- 
duct and  ordering  of  things.  They  feel  that  things  are  at  loose 
ends — in  fact  they  know  it,  for  our  army  is  one  that  reads  and 
thinks.  This  spirit  of  discontent  is  augmented  by  many  causes 
of  a  special  nature.  For  example  :  1.  They  have  not  for  many 
months  been  paid.  Shameful  and  inexcusable  in  the  Govern- 
ment. 2.  The  stagnation,  ennui,  disgust,  suffering,  sickness,  and 
discontent  of  camp  life  in  winter  (without  winter  quarters),  amid 
Virginia  mud,  cold,  and  rain.  No  small  hardships,  I  can  assure 
you  ;  and  it  is  doubtful  if  any  European  army  ever  had  to  sub- 
mit to  equally  great  ones.  3.  General  feeling  of  despondenc) 
resulting  from  mismanagement  and  our  want  of  military  suc- 
cess. Soldiers  are  severe  critics  and  are  not  to  be  bamboozled. 
You  may  marshal  your  array  of  victories  in  glittering  editorials— 


GENERAL   BFRNSIDE   ATTEMPTS  A  LAST   ADVANCE.      383 

they  smile  sarcastically  at  them.  You  see  men  who  tell  you 
that  t/ipy  have  been  in  a  dozen  battles,  and  were  licked  and 
chased  every  time — they  would  like  to  chase  once  to  see  how 
it  '  feels.'  This  begins  to  tell  painfully  on  them.  Their  splen- 
did qualities — their  patience,  faith,  hope,  courage,  are  gradually 
oozing  out.  Certainly  never  were  a  graver,  gloomier,  more 
sober,  sombre,  serious,  and  unmusical  body  of  men  than  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  at  the  present  time.  It  is  a  saddening 
contrast  with  a  year  ago." 

The  condition  of  affairs  in  the  Southern  army  was  strongly 
in  contrast  with  tliis ;  tind  perhaps  the  Confederate  authorities  • 
never  had  at  their  disposal  a  more  effective  force.  The  ranks 
had  filled  up  since  the  Maryland  campaign ;  the  men  were  well 
rationed  and  tolerably  clothed,  and  the  result  of  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  in  which  about  25,000  troops  (if  so  many)  had 
repulsed  about  75,000,  had  greatly  elated  them.  The  present 
writer  never  remembers  seeing  the  army  in  gayer  spirits,  and 
the  correspondent  of  the  London  "  Times,"  who  saw  them  in 
the  winter  of  1862,  speaks  of  the  "  wonderful  spirits  of  the  tat- 
terdemalion regiments  of  the  South."  .  The  same  writer  adds : 

"  It  'is  a  strange  thing  to  look  at  these  men,  so  ragged,  slov- 
enly, sleeveless,  without  a  superfluous  ounce  of  flesh  upon  their 
bones,  with  wild  matted  hair,  in  mendicants'  rags,  and  to  think 
when  the  battle-flag  goes  to  the  front  how  they  can  and  do  fight. 
'  There  is  only  one  attitude  in  which  I  never  should  be  ashamed 
of  your  seeing  my  men,  and  that  is  when  they  are  fighting.' 
These  were  General  Lee's  words  to  me  the*  first  time  I  ever  saw 
him  ;  they  have  been  confirmed  by  every  other  distinguished  offi- 
cer in  the  Confederacy." 

The  Southern  troops  found  at  this  time  a  still  greater  ad- 
mirer in  the  editor  of  the  Washington  "  Republican,"  a  journal 
of  strong  Northern  sentiment ;  and  especial  commendation  wa? 
b&stowed  upon  the  Virginians  : 

"  If  there  has  been  any  decadence  of  the  manly.virtues  in  the 
Old  Dominion,"  said  this  writer,  "  it  is  not  because  the  present 
generation  has  proved  itself  either  weak  or  cowardly  or  unequal 


384  LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

to  the  greatest  emergencies.  No  people,  with  so  few  numbcr&y 
ever  put  into  the  field  and  kept  there  so  long,  troops  more  nu- 
merous, brave,  or  more  efficient,  or  produced  Generals  of  more- 
merit,  in  all  the  kinds  and  grades  of  military  talent.  It  is  not  a 
worn-out,  effete  race  which  has  produced  Lee,  Johnston,  Jack- 
son, Ashby,  and  Stuart.  It  is  not  a  worn-out  and  effete  race 
which,  for  two  years,  has  defended  its  capital  against  the  ap- 
proach of  an  enemy  close  upon  their  borders,  and  outnumbering 
them  thirty  to  one.  It  is  not  a  worn-out  and  effete  race  which 
has  preserved  substantial  popular  unity  under  all  the  straits  and 
pressure  and  sacrifices  of  this  unprecedented  war.  '  Let  history,' 
as  was  said  of  another  race,  '  which  records  their  unhappy  fate 
as  a  people,  do  justice  to  their  rude  virtues  as  men.'  They  are 
fighting  madly  in  a  bad  cause,  but  they  are  fighting  bravely. 
They  have  few  cowards  and  no  traitors.  The  hardships  of  war 
are  endured  without  a  murmur  by  all  classes,  and  the  dangers  of 
war  without  flinching,  by  the  newest  conscripts  ;  while  their  gen- 
try, the  offshoot  of  their  popular  social  system,  have  thrown, 
themselves  into  the  camp  and  field  with  all  the  dash  and  high 
spirit  of  the  European  noblesse  of  the  middle  ages,  risking,  with- 
on*  apparent  concern,  upon  a  desperate  adventure,  all  that  men 
value  ;  and  after  a  generation  of  peace  and  repose  and  security, 
which  had  not  emasculated  them,  presenting  to  their  enemies  a. 
trained  and  intrepid  front,  as  of  men  born  and  bred  to  war." 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

JACKSON    AT    FREDERICKSBUBG. 

WE  pass  now  from  the  narrative  of  great  public  events  to  a< 
few  personal  details  of  Jackson  at  the  period  of  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg. 

Those  who  served  in  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  at  the 
time  in  question  will  not  soon  forget  the  effect  produced  upon  the? 


JACKSON   AT   FKEDERICKSBURG.  385 

troops  by  the  intelligence  that  Jackson  had  arrived  with  his  in- 
vincible  corps,  and  was  ready  to  take  part  in  any  movement 
which  occurred.  The  presence  of  the  great  soldier  seemed  to 
infuse  new  strength  and  confidence  into  every  heart ;  and  wher- 
ever he  passed  the  woods  reechoed  with  cheers  in  his  honor.  He 
was  then  ascending  to  the  summit  of  his  fame,  and  the  hearts  of 
the  men  went  forth  to  greet  him  with  an  affection  and  admiration 
amounting  to  enthusiasm. 

On  the  evening  of  his  arrival  he  had  thrown  himself  upon  the 
ground,  under  a  tree,  and  was  warming  himself  by  the  camp-fire, 
when  an  excellent  lady,  living  near  at  hand,  sent  him  an  invita- 
tion to  come  and  sup  with  the  family.  His  presence  had  been 
discovered  from  a  soldier,  who  asked  permission  to  draw  water 
from  the  well  "  for  General  Jackson  " — to  which  the  good  lady 
responded :  u  Tell  General  Jackson  that  every  thing  in  this 
house  belongs  to  him." 

The  General  speedily  appeared  in  response  to  the  invitation, 
and  evidently  enjoyed  his  conversation  with  the  lady  of  the  man- 
sion with  the  keenest  relish.  The  only  significant  circumstance 
connected  with  the  incident  was  the  character  of  this  lady.  She 
was  not  young,  brilliant,  and  amusing,  but  very  old,  gray-haired, 
and  known  throughout  the  whole  region  for  her  unassuming 
goodness  and  devoted  piety.  In  her  society,  Jackson  seemed  to 
experience  an  inexpressible  charm — to  rest  his  brain  and  his 
heart,  as  with  his  sweet  and  modest  smile  he  sat  and  listened  to 
the  simple  friendly  accents.  His  countenance  was  full  of  quiet 
pleasure  as  he  talked  with  the  aged  lady,  and  in  spite  of  his  long 
day's  march  he  nearly  lost  sight  of  his  supper  in  continuing  the 
conversation. 

Both  are  now  dead ;  but  they  must  have  met  again  beyond 
the  stars. 

When  the  enemy's  intended  advance  was  ascertained,  Jack- 
son's forces  moved  silently  to  their  position,  and  the  men  began 
to  look  out  for  their  favorite,  in  order  to  cheer  him  as  he  rode 
along  the  line.  Strange  to  say,  no  sound  was  heard  in  any  direc- 
tion, and  one  of  the  men  said : 
25 


386  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

"  Why  don't  old  Jack  come  along,  I  wonder?  " 

"  Why,  he  passed  by  a  quarter  of  an  hour  ago,"  was  the 
reply  of  a  brother  soldier. 

"  Old  Jack  !  "  exclaimed  the  first,  "  he  pass  by ! " 

"  Yes,  didn't  you  see  him  with  his  staff  ?  " 

"  What !  "  ejaculated  the  soldier  with  an  accent  demanding 
at  least  tkree  exclamation  points,  "  that  finely-dressed  fellow  that 
went  by  here,  Old  Jack  !  No,  sir  !  You  can't  fool  me  in  thai 
way ! " 

But  Jackson  had  really  passed,  and  the  troops  had  not  recog- 
nized him,  from  a  very  simple  circumstance.  He  had  doffed  hi» 
old  coat  soiled  with  dirt  and  scorched  by  the  sun,  to  appear  in  a 
new  uniform — for  him  of  the  most  gorgeous  description.  It  con 
sisted  of  the  new  coat  presented  to  him  by  General  Stuart  in  the 
Valley ;  a  superb  new  overcoat  of  dark-blue  cloth,  with  an  am- 
ple cavalry  cape  ;  and  a  new  cap,  in  the  shape  yf  his  old  cadet 
cap  worn  in  so  many  battles,  but,  unlike  the  former,  shining  with 
gold  braid  which  was  resplendent  in  contrast  with  the  dark  cloth. 
It  was  no  wonder  that  the  troops  did  not  recognize  him  in  this 
unwonted  finery.  The  old  uniform  had  seemed  to  them  to  be  a 
part  of  him,  and  the  new  was  by  no  means  to  their  liking. 

Jackson's  position  during  the  battle  was  for  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  time  near  or  in  front  of  Colonel  Walker's  artillery  on 
the  hill  above  Hamilton's  crossing,  where  his  right  was  posted. 
Here  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  guns  was  exceedingly  hot,  and  Jack- 
son, like  the  rest,  dismounted  and  lay  down  to  protect  himself 
from  the  storm  of  shell  which  swept  the  crest.  He  was  soon  on. 
horseback  again,  however,  and  moving  to  every  portion  of  the 
field.  It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  day  that,  while  hurrying 
to  another  part  of  the  line,  he  directed  an  officer  to  order  his  ar- 
tillery on  the  hill,  then  swept  by  projectiles,  to  move  forward, 
and  added  coolly : 

"  Captain,  if  you  and  your  horse  come  out  alive,  tell  General 
Stuart  that  I  am  going  to  advance  my  whole  line  at  sunset." 

At  this  period  of  the  action,  Jackson  exhibited  unwonted  ex- 
citement. Despite  his  collected  bearing,  it  was  evident  from  his 


JACKSON    AT   FREDERICK8BURG.  387 

rapid  movements  from  .point  to  point,  and  a  flush  in  his  cheeks, 
that  his  whole  soul  was  aroused,  and  his  brain  on  fire  with  the 
thought  that  he  would  be  able  to  drive  the  enemy  with  the  bay- 
onet beyond  the  river.  Even,  however,  at  this  moment,  when  his 
resolution  was  taken,  and  his  nature  stirred  to  its  depths,  his 
soldierly  courtesy  did  not  desert  him.  To  the  salutes  which  he 
received,  he  responded  as  carefully,  with  the  finger  to  the  cap,  as 
if  he  had  been  on  parade. 

An  affecting  incident  is  related  by  a  friend  *  who  shared  hia 
bed  on  the  night  of  the  battle ;  and  it  is  here  given  as  we  re- 
ceived it  from  him.  About  midnight,  Jackson's  tent-mate,  who 
had  not  yet  fallen  asleep,  saw  the  soldier  rise,  dress,  and  go  to 
his  desk.  He  lit  his  candle,  and,  placing  some  books  on  end,  so 
as  to  conceal  the  light  from  the  supposed  sleeper's  eyes,  began  to 
work.  From  work  he  passed  to  reflection,  and  his  friend  said, 
suddenly : 

"  "What  are  you  thinking  of,  General  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  are  you  awake  ?  "  was  his  reply  ;  "  I  was  thinking  of 
the  battle  to-morrow,  and  that  the  balls  will  be  hotter  on  the  hill 
by  the  crossing  than  to-day." 

As  they  were  conversing,  the  sound  of  horse's  hoofs  was 
heard  approaching ;  the  noise  ceased,  and  an  orderly  came  into 
the  tent. 

"Who  is  that?"  asked  Jackson. 

"  Somebody  from  General  Gregg,  sir." 

"  Tell  him  to  come  in." 

An  officer  appeared  at  the  opening,  and,  saluting  Jackson, 
said : 

"  General  Gregg  is  dying,  General,  and  sent  me  to  say  to 
you  that  he  wrote  you  a  letter  recently  in  which  he  -used  expres- 
sions he  is  now  sorry  for.  He  says  that  he  meant  no  disrespect 
by  that  letter,  and  was  only  doing  what  he  considered  to  be  his 
duty.  He  hopes  you  will  forgive  him." 

Jackson  listened  to  these  words  in  silence,  but  it  was  evident 

*  Colonel  A.  R.  Boteler — our  authority  for  this  incident. 


388  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

that  he  was  greatly  moved.  When  the  officer  had  ceased  speak- 
ing, he  said,  earnestly : 

"  Tell  General  Gregg  I  will  be  with  him  directly." 

Then  calling  to  his  body-servant,  he  directed  him  to  saddle 
his  "  old  sorrel." 

To  this,  however,  the  considerate  Jim  objected,  and  com- 
menced an  elaborate  account  of  what  the  old  sorrel  had  passed 
through  on  that  day.  Jackson  checked  him  impatiently,  and  di- 
rected him  to  obey  without  further  words. 

"  Say  to  the  General,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  officer,  "  that 
I  will  be  with  him  immediately." 

And  he  was  soon  in  the  saddle,  riding  through  the  chill  De- 
cember night,  upon  his  mission. 

We  know  not  what  passed  that  night  between  the  brother 
soldiers — what  words  were  exchanged,  what  pardon  granted  ere 
it  was  asked — or  what  solemn  farewell's  took  place  between  the 
man  about  to  die  and  him  who  watched  beside  him.  There  are 
many  dramas  in  war — the  curtain  never  rises  upon  some  of  the 
most  affecting. 


CHAPTEE  XXXI. 

WINTER  QUARTERS   AT    MOSS   NECK. 

AFTER  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Jackson  established  his 
headquarters  at  "  Moss  Neck,"  the  estate  of  the  Corbins,  about 
ten  miles  below  the  town,  and  here  he  remained  during  the 
winter. 

Upon  the  crest  of  the  long  range  of  hills  which  here  runs 
along  the  right  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  dominating  the  wide 
low  grounds,  and  affording  admirable  positions  for  artillery,  if 
the  enemy  advanced,  he  remained  for  months,  watching  the  up- 
lands on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  ready  at  any  moment 
to  oppose,  with  his  veterans  of  the  old  corps,  the  advancing  Fed- 


WINTER    QUARTERS   AT   MOSS   NECK.  389" 

erals.  From  an  eminence  near  headquarters  the  view  was  very 
attractive.  To  the  right  and  left  the  wooded  range  extended 
toward  Fredericksburg  on  the  one  hand,  and  Port  Royal  on  the 
other ;  in  front,  the  far-stretching  low  grounds  gave  full  sweep 
to  the  eye ;  and  at  the  foot  of  its  forest-clad  bluffs,  or  by  the 
margin  of  undulating  fields,  the  Rappahannock  calmly  flowed 
toward  the  sea.  Old  mansions  dotted  this  beautiful  land — for 
beautiful  it  was  in  spite  of  the  chill  influences  of  winter,  with  its 
fertile  meadows,  its  picturesque  woodlands,  and  its  old  roads 
skirted  by  long  rows  of  shadowy  cedars,  planted  with  the  regu- 
larity of  ornamental  shrubbery  in  a  gentleman's  garden. 

Headquarters  were  near  the  "  Corbin  House  ;  "  in  front  was 
"  Hayfield,"  the  residence  of  that  Taylor  family  illustrated  in 
old  days  by  "  Colonel  John  Taylor,  of  Caroline  ; "  near  at  hand 
were  the  hospitable  residences  of  the  Baylors,  Bernards,  and 
others ;  and  in  the  distance,  toward  Fredericksburg,  was  "  St. 
Julian,"  the  ancient  homestead  of  the  Brooke  family,  which 
Washington,  Randolph,  and  the  great  statesmen  of  the  past  al- 
ways paused  at  on  their  journeys,  to  give  the  news  and  discuss 
the  men  and  things  of  the  past  century. 

Another  age  had  come  now,  and  the'  smiling  fields  were  dis- 
figured by  the  footprints  of  war.  The  meadows  were  crossed 
and  recrossed  by  roads  which  had  cut  up  the  soil  into  ruts  and 
miry  holes.  The  steep  banks — as  the  enemy  have  had  an  op- 
portunity of  seeing — were  fashioned  into  earthworks  for  sharp- 
shooters ;  the  beautiful  cedars  were  felled  to  supply  firewood  for 
the  troops  ;  and  every  thing  betrayed  the  presence  of  the  huge, 
dark,  bloody,  dirty,  brutal  genius  of  battle. 

Jackson  employed  himself  during  the  winter  months  in  pre- 
paring the  official  reports  of  his  battles.  The  embodiment  of  the 
facts,  as  given  in  the  reports  of  officers  engaged,  was  entrusted 
to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Faulkner,  A.  A.  G.,  but  Jackson  carefully 
revised  and  corrected  the  statements  before  his  official  signature 
was  appended.  He  was  exceedingly  careful  not  to  have  any 
thing  placed  thus  upon  formal  record  which  was  not  established 
by  irrefutable  proof.  Truth  was,  with  him,  the  jewel  beyond  all 


390  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

price  ;  and  nothing  discomposed  him  more  than  the  bare  suspi- 
cion that  accuracy  was  sacrificed  to  effect.  Another  marked 
trait  in  him  was  his  rooted  objection  to  present  in  his  reports  the 
motives  of  his  a.ction,  and  explain  the  objects  of  his  various 
movements.  It  is  said  that  Colonel  Faulkner  remonstrated  with 
him  upon  this  point,  and  declared  that  the  men  who  came  after 
him  would  be  greatly  embarrassed  by  the  absence  of  these  ex- 
planations ;  above  all,  that  his  fame  would  suffer  on  the  pages 
t)f  the  historian.  To  this  Jackson  replied  in  nearly  the  following 
words : 

"  The  men  who  come  after  me  must  act  for  themselves  ;  and 
BS  to  the  historians  who  speak  of  the  movements  of  my  com- 
mand, I  do  not  concern  myself  greatly  as  to  what  they  may  say." 

He  disliked  adjectives  in  the  narratives  of  his  battles ;  and 
this  severe  simplicity  renders  his  reports  occasionally  cold  and 
dry  to  the  reader — that  of  the  battle  of  Kernstown,  for  example. 
But  it  is  impossible  to  withhold  our  respect  from  the  motives 
which  prompted  this  brevity  of  statement.  Jackson  had  indeed 
an  unconquerable  aversion  for  "  making  the  most "  of  any  event 
in  which  he  was  concerned.  His  native  modesty  revolted  from 
every  species  of  ostentation ;  and  boasting  or  self-laudation  were 
with  him  simply  impossible.  His  modesty  was  displayed  in 
many  ways.  He  always  shrunk  from  those  favorable  compari- 
sons of  himself  with  his  brother  soldiers  which  indiscreet  news- 
paper writers  indulged  in,  and  regarded  them  with  obvious  pain 
and  repugnance.  It  is  not  so  certain  that  he  did  not  enjoy 
"  skilled  commendation  "  of  his  actions,  and  even  the  praises  of 
the  journals.  He  loved  human  sympathy  and  the  admiration  of 
his  fellowmen  ;  and  the  expression  of  these  feelings  greatly 
pleased  him,  for  he  was  conscious  of  having  labored  hard  to 
deserve  them.  To  the  form,  however,  which  this  public  senti- 
ment occasionally  assumed,  he  was  not  a  little  opposed.  He 
would  never  have  his  likeness  taken.  That  which  was  fortu- 
nately secured  in  the  spring  of  1863,  and  appears  in  front  of  this 
volume,  was  the  result  of  an  urgent  request  from  one  to  whom 
ne  could  refuse  nothing.  When  the  publishers  of  an  illustrated 


WINTER   QUARTERS   AT   MOSS   NECK.  .   39  J 

periodical  wrote  to  him,  asking  for  his  daguerreotype  and  some, 
notes  of  his  battles  as  the  basis  of  a  sketch,  he  wrote  in  reply, 
that  he  had  no  likeness  of  himself,  and  had  done  nothing  worthy 
of  mention. 

In  the  preparation  of  his  official  reports,  and  the  routine  of 
labor  incident  to  his  command,  passed  the  winter  days  of 
1862-'63.  Those  who  visited  Moss  Neck  during  these  days, 
give  a  humorous  description  of  the  surroundings  of  the  famous 
General  Stonewall.  Before  his  tent  was  pitched,  he  established 
his  headquarters  in  a  small  out-building  of  the  Corbin  House  j 
dtici  all  who  came  to  transact  business  with  Lieutenant-General 
Jackson,  were  struck  by  a  series  of  headquarter  ornaments  of 
the  most  unique  and  surprising  description.  On  the  walls  of  the 
apartment  were  pictures  of  race  horses,  well  known  and  dear 
in  former  days  to  the  planters  of  the  neighboring  region.  Then, 
there  was  a  portrait  of  some  celebrated  game  cock,  ready 
trimmed  and  gaffed  for  conflict  to  the  death.  A  companion 
piece  to  these  was  the  picture  of  a  terrier  engaged  in  furious 
onslaught  upon  an  army  of  rats,  which  he  was  seizing,  tearing, 
and  shaking  to  death  as  fast  they  came.  These  decorations  of 
headquarters  excited  the  merriment  of  the  General's  associates  ; 
and  General  Stuart  suggested  to  him  that  a  drawing  of  the  apart- 
ment should  be  made,  with  the  race  horses,  game  cocks,  and 
terrier  in  bold  relief,  the  picture  to  be  labelled :  "  View  of  the 
winter-quarters  of  General  Stonewall  Jackson,  affording  an  in- 
sight into  the  tastes  and  character  of  the  individual."  The  im- 
pression which  he  produced  upon  his  visitors,  at  the  time  in 
question,  is  exhibited  by  the  following  passage  from  a  letter 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hoge,  who  went  to  call  upon  him.  Dr.  Hoge 
writes : 

u  I  have  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  General  Jackson's 

headquarters,  at  Moss  Neck,  the  grand  mansion  of  Mr. , 

some  ten  miles  from  Fredericksburg.  The  General  modestly 
occupies  the  lower  room  of  one  of  the  offices  in  the  yard.  As, 
soon  as  I  arrived  General  Jackson  claimed  me  as  his  guest,  and 
I  gladly  spent  what  time  I  could  with  him.  I  found  Mr. 


392  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

regularly  ensconced  in  his  office,  as  a  sort  of  chaplain  general, 
not  officially,  of  course,  but  virtually.  His  work  is  partly  to  in- 
crease the  number  of  chaplains,  placing  them  where  most  needed, 
and  partly  to  preach  himself  wherever  there  is  need  of  it  in  the 
corps.  His  position  is  very  important,  and  his  residence  with 
General  Jackson  not  only  furthers  his  influence,  but  is  personally 
profitable  to  him.  Indeed,  it  seems  hardly  possible  to  be  long 
in  the  society  of  that  noble  and  honored  General,  that  simple- 
hearted,  straightforward,  laborious,  devoted  man  of  God,  with- 
out catching  something  of  his  spirit — the  spirit  of  toil,  of  patience, 
of  modesty,  of  careful  conscientiousness,  of  child-like  dependence 
on  God,  of  fervent  believing  prayer.  While  I  was  in  camp  I 
preached  five  times  in  the  Stonewall  Brigade.  How  the  men 
crowded  into  their  log  church,  how  they  listened,  how  they 
seemed  to  hang  upon  the  word,  you,  of  all  men,  need  least  to  be 
told,  for  you  have  seen  so  much  of  them  from  the  beginning  of 
the  war.  On  Sunday  night,  after  preaching,  the  General,  Mr. 

,  and  myself,  had  a  long  talk,  as  we  sat  drying  our  boots  in 

front  of  the  open  fire.  When  it  was  nearly  eleven  o'clock  the 
General  asked  rue  to  conduct  worship ;  and  afterwards,  before 
retiring,  he  set  us  the  example  of  kneeling  again  for  secret 
prayer.  He  then  shared  his  bed  upon  the  floor  with  me,  and  we 
talked  till  long  after  midnight.  Though  usually  taciturn,  he  led 
the  conversation.  How  anxious  he  was  for  his  army !  how 
anxious  for  himself!  How  manifest  it  was  that  he  is  a  man 
whose  great  desire  is  to  be  right  in  all  things,  and  especially  to 
be  right  before  God  !  In  our  whole  intercourse  I  could  not  de- 
tect the  slightest  trace  of  self-importance,  ostentation,  or  seeking 
after  vainglory.  To  glorify  God  possessed  all  his  thoughts. 
'  I  have  been  thinking  a  great  deal  about  our  chief  end  lately,' 
said  he,  '  and  I  think  the  first  answer  in  our  catechism  tells  it 
all ;  man's  chief  end  is  to  glorify  God  and  to  enjoy  Him  for- 
ever ;  and  I  think,'  he  added,  '  we  need  not  trouble  ourselves 
much  about  the  second  part,  if  we  only  attend  well  to  the  first. 
I  find  my  life  in  camp  a  very  happy  one  when  I  am  enabled  tc 
keep  this  aim  steadily  before  me — to  live  for  the  glory  of  God.' '' 


WINTER    QUARTERS    AT   MOSS    NECK. 

Those  who  saw  him  during  this  period,  will  recall  many 
other  charming  reminiscences  of  him.  He  was  very  fond  of 
children,  and  those  of  the  neighborhood  will  long  remember  the 
kind  voice  and  smile  of  the  soldier — his  .caresses  and  affectionate 
ways.  "We  have  alluded  to  the  new  cap,  which  the  General 
wore  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  resplendent  with  gold  braid 
and  all  manner  of  decorations.  He  did  not  admire  this  fine  sub- 
stitute for  that  old,  sun-scorched  cap,  which  had  so  long  served 
him  ;  and  when,  one  day,  a  little  girl  was  standing  at  his  knee, 
looking  up  from  her  clustering  curls  at  the  kindly  General,  whose 
hand  was  caressing  her  hair,  he  called  for  a  pair  of  scissors, 
ripped  off  the  rich  gold  band,  and  joining  the  ends,  placed  it  like 
a  coronet  upon  her  head,  with  smiles  and  evident  admiration  of 
the  pretty  picture  thus  presented.* 

Another  little  girl,  in  one  of  the  hospitable  houses  of  that 
region,  told  the  present  writer  that  when  she  expressed  to  a 
gentleman  her  wish  to  kiss  General  Jackson,  and  the  gentleman 
repeated  her  words,  the  General  blushed  very  much,  and  turned 
away  with  a  slight  laugh,  as  if  he  was  confused. 

These  are  trifles,  but  it  is  surely  a  pleasant  spectacle  to  see 
the  great  soldier  amid  these  kindly,  simple  scenes ;  to  watch  the 
leader,  whose  soul  has  never  shrunk  in  the  hour  of  peril,  passing 
happy  moments  in  the  society  of  laughing  children. 

The  days  passed  thus  quietly  at  Moss  Neck,  the  enemy 
making  numerous  demonstrations,  but  never  crossing.  January, 
February,  the  greater  part  of  March  went  by,  and  Jackson  still 
remained  upon  his  crest  of  hills  above  the  meadows  of  the  Rap- 
pahannock.  But  late  in  March  he  moved  his  headquarters  to  a 
point  near  Hamilton's  crossing,  just  in  rear  of  the  battle  field 
of  Fredericksburg,  on  the  southern  side  of  the  Massaponnax,  and 
not  far  from  General  Lee. 

He  had  some  time  before  been  made  Lieutenant-General,  but 
this  promotion  could  add  nothing  to  the  stature  of  a  man  whose 
military  renown  was  so  firmly  established. 

*  The  late  Colonel  A.  S.  Pendleton,  Jackson's  A.  A.  G.,  is  our  authority 
for  this  incident. 


394:  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

Jackson  looked  forward  to  the  coming  campaign  with  taer 
deepest  interest.  He  was  one  day  conversing  with  a  member 
of  his  staff,  and  having  stated  the  grounds  upon  which  he  be- 
lieved a  great  battle  would  soon  take  place,  he  remained  silent 
for  some  moments,  and  then  added  humbly  and  reverently  : 

"  My  trust  is  in  God." 

A  brief  silence  again  followed  these  words  ;  but  suddenly  the 
face  of  the  soldier  flushed  with  martial  enthusiasm,  and  rising 
to  his  feet,  with  flashing  eyes  and  compressed  lips,  he  exclaimed : 

"  I  wish  they  would  come  !  " 

The  spring  was  now  beginning  to  advance,  and  the  season 
for  hostilities  had  returned.  Jackson  hastened  the  preparation 
of  his  reports,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  at  last 
they  were  nearly  complete. 

It  was  whilst  he  was  engaged  in  his  revision  of  the  report 
of  the  operations  of  his  corps  in  the  Maryland  campaign,  that 
the  note  of  battle  was  again  sounded ;  and  from  memories  of 
past  events  and  the  battles  already  fought,  he  was  recalled  to 
the  present  and  to  the  still  more  desperate  conflict  about  to  take 
place — to  the  last,  and  what  was  to  prove  not  the  least  splendid 
of  his  achievements. 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

FEDEEAL  PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  CAMPAIGN  OF  1863. 

IT  is  impossible  in  a  work  like  the  present  to  present  that 
comprehensive  view  of  operations  in  every  quarter  of  the  field, 
which  is  necessary  to  an  intelligent  understanding  of  the  late 
revolution.  The  crowding  incidents  of  the  struggle  must  be 
sought  elsewhere.  Scarce  an  allusion  can  be  made  to  them 
here. 

The  aspect  of  affairs  at  the  opening  of  the  year  1863  was 


FEDERAL  PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  CAMPAIGN  OF  1863.     395 

far  more  encouraging  to  the  South  than  in  the  spring  of  1862. 
Then  a  heavy  cloud  seemed  to  have  settled  upon  the  Southern 
horizon,  and  ruin  stared  the  Confederates  in  the  face.  Donald- 
son and  Roanoke  Island  had  been  captured ;  the  Confederates 
had  been  defeated  at  Elkhorn,  Kernstown,  and  Newbern,  which 
latter  loss  exposed  all  Eastern  North  Carolina.  In  April  Fort 
Macon  surrendered,  and  on  the  1st  of  May  New  Orleans  fell. 
Such  had  been  the  aspect  of  affairs  in  May,  1862. 

As  May,  1863,  approached,  the  prospects  of  the  South  looked 
far  more  favorable,  and  the  victories  of  Cold  Harbor,  Cedar 
Run,  the  second  Manassas,  and  Fredericksburg  had  inspired  the 
troops  with  enthusiasm.  In  Virginia  two  years  of  arduous 
struggle  had  not  enabled  the  Federal  authorities  to  penetrate 
beyond  the  Rappahannock ;  and  on  the  southern  banks  of  that 
river,  in  the  opening  of  the  spring  of  1863,  the  long  lines  of 
Confederate  pickets  warned  the  enemy  that  any  attempt  to  cross 
would  be  resisted  by  the  army  which  had  repulsed  them  in  De- 
cember at  Fredericksburg. 

We  are  compelled,  in  like  manner,  to  pass  over  the  political 
events  of  the  period,  including  the  Emancipation  Proclamation 
of  President  Lincoln,  by  which  he  declared  the  slaves  free  on 
and  after  January  1, 1863,  and  announced  that  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment would  "  do  no  act  or  acts  to  repress  such  persons  or 
any  of  them,  in  any  efforts  they  may  make  for  their  actual 
freedom."  The  general  survey,  military  and  political,  must  be 
looked  for  elsewhere. 

What  had,  however,  a  direct  bearing  upon  the  Virginia 
campaign,  and  the  subject  of  this  book,  was  the  evident  impres- 
sion among  many  of  the  most  prominent  politicians  at  the  North, 
that  unless  the  approaching  campaign  was  successful,  the  Fed- 
eral Government  must  make  peace  upon  the  basis  of  separation 
and  Southern  independence.  The  New  York  "Tribune"  an- 
nounced the  programme  of  operations  which  the  times  de- 
manded, and  gave  its  views  as  follows :  "  Having  mafced  our 
forces  and  filled  our  depots  and  caissons,  charge  upon  the  rebels 
in  every  quarter — assailing  their  ports  with  iron-clads,  their  ar- 


396  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

mies  with  stronger  armies,  fighting  resolutely  but  warily  with 
intent  to  capture  their  strongholds  and  exhaust  their  resources — 
while  expeditions  of  light-armed  black  Unionists,  carrying  only 
arms  and  ammunition,  traverse  those  portions  of  Rebeldom  most 
exposed  and  thickly  peopled  with  slaves,  carrying  liberty  to  all 
who  wish  it,  and  arms  wherewith  to  defend  it ;  moving  rapidly 
and  evading  all  fortified  points  and  overpowering  forces,  while 
breaking  up  railroads  and  telegraph  lines,  and  making  trouble 
generally."  If  this  "  making  trouble  generally"  by  black  Union- 
ists and  others  did  not  attain  its  object,  then  the  war  must  be 
given  up  by  the  North.  "  If  three  months  more  of  earnest 
fighting,"  said  the  "Tribune,"  "  shall  not  serve  to  make  a  serious 
impression  on  the  rebels — if  the  end  of  that  term  shall  find  us 
no  further  advanced  than  its  beginning — if  some  malignant  fate 
has  decreed  that  the  blood  and  treasure  of  the  nation  shall  ever 
be  squandered  in  fruitless  efforts — let  us  low  to  our  destiny,  and 
make  the  best  attainable  peace." 

The  Federal  authorities  seemed  so  far  to  concur  in  these 
views,  as  to  determine  upon  a  more  resolute  prosecution  of  hos- 
tilities than  before.  Every  means  was  again  used  to  gather  re- 
cruits, and  by  the  spring  the  authorities  had  upon  the  shores  of 
the  Rappahannock,  a  force  which  Major-General  Peck,  of  the 
United  States  Army,  stated,  in  the  New  York  "  Herald "  to. 
have  numbered  159,300  men. 

This  large  army  was  not  to  be  commanded  by  General  Burn- 
side.  The  battle  of  Fredericksburg  seems  to  have  occasioned 
his  disgrace  with  the  military  authorities,  and  he  was  to  be  suc- 
ceeded by  General  Joseph  Hooker,  called,  for  his  nerve  and  ob- 
stinacy upon  the  field,  "  Fighting  Joe  Hooker."  This  ofiicer 
was  a  soldier  of  ability  as  division  or  corps  commander,  but 
does  not  seem  to  have  possessed  the  faculties  necessary  in  the 
head  of  an  army.  He  had  become  embroiled  both  with  Gen- 
eral McClellan  and  General  Burnside,  whose  operations  he 
greatly^ensured  before  the  Committees  of  Investigation  ;  and  the 
Federal  authorities  now  seemed  to  have  so  far  coincided  in  hi? 
views  as  to  have  decided  that  he  should  have  an  opportunity  to 


THE   CAMPAIGN    OPENS.  397 

display  his  own  abilities  unhampered  by  any  immediate  supe- 
rior. He  was  placed  in  command  of  the  celebrated  Army  of 
the  Potomac  ;  all  the  resources  of  the  Government  were  put  at 
his  orders  ;  and  in  April  he  had  ready  for  the  field  an  army 
which  he  himself  described  as  "  the  finest  on  this  planet." 


CHAPTER 

THE     CAMPAIGN     OPENS. 

AT  the  end  of  April  the  two  armies  confronted  each  other  on 
the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock,  from  a  point  above  its  conflu- 
ence with  the  Rapidan,  as  far  down  as  Port  Royal.  The  bulk 
of  the  Confederate  forces  remained,  however,  near  Fredericks- 
burg.  The  various  fords  in  the  county  of  Culpepper  were 
guarded  by  General  Stuart  with  his  cavalry. 

The  first  note  of  the  coming  conflict  was  sounded  on  the  1 7th 
of  March  from  the  upper  Rappahannock.  On  that  day  General 
Averill  with  about  three  thousand  cavalry  crossed  the  river  at 
Kelly's  ford,  with  the  obvious  purpose  of  cutting  General  Lee's 
communications  in  the  direction  of  Gordonsville,  and  ascertain- 
ing his  strength  and  position. 

Bad  fortune,  however,  attended  the  expedition.  The  Fed- 
eral general  was  met  near  Kelly's  ford,  by  General  Fitz  Lee, 
with  about  eight  hundred  cavalry,  «ind  his  advance  so  obstinately 
opposed,  that,  after  a  day  of  stubborn  and  bloody  conflict,  he 
was  forced  to  fall  back,  with  heavy  loss,  and  recross  the  river. 
General  Lee's  loss  was  considerable ;  and  among  the  officers 
killed  was  Major  John  Pelham — the  "  gallant  Pelham  "  of  Gen 
eral  Lee's  report  at  Fredericksburg — who  was  present  with  Gen 
eral  Stuart  during  the  battle.  The  fall  of  this  great  artillerisl 
was  an  irreparable  calamity,  but  the  enemy  were  checked  ;  and 
the  Southern  troops  had  the  prestige  of  victory  in  the  first  action 
of  the  spring  campaign. 


398  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

After  the  battle  of  Kellysville,  which  for  hard  and  obstinat€ 
fighting  has  scarcely  been  excelled,  the  Federal  forces  remained 
quiet  until  April.  Toward  the  middle  of  that  month  every 
thing  indicated  an  early  advance.  It  was  known  that  General 
Hooker  had  been  making  extraordinary  exertions  to  increase  the 
strength  of  his  army,  and  to  place  every  department  of  the 
command  upon  a  thorough  "  war  footing."  These  labors  were 
said  to  have  secured  the  desired  result ;  and,  in  the  month  of 
April,  the  Northern  journals  repeatedly  and  confidently  asserted 
General  Hooker's  Ability  to  overwhelm  General  Lee  whenever 
he  advanced. 

This  confidence  seems  to  have  been  shared  by  General 
Hooker  and  the  majority  of  his  officers.  Whether  deceived  by 
spies,  who  communicated  false  intelligence,  or  misled  by  his 
own  anticipations,  which  made  "  the  wish  the  father  to  the 
thought,"  the  Federal  commander  exhibited,  in  many  ways,  a 
perfect  confidence  in  his  ability  to  defeat  Lee,  and  looked  for- 
ward to  the  battle  about  to  take  place  as  destined  to  terminate 
the  war. 

The  advance  of  the  Federal  forces  was  preceded  as  usual  by 
movements  of  cavalry.  The  enemy  had  largely  increased  their 
force  in  this  branch,  and  paid  great  attention  to  its  armament 
and  equipment.  The  North  had  been  ransacked  for  horses  ;  the 
best  patterns  of  carbines  and  pistols  were  furnished  in  profusion  ; 
and  great  attention  was  given  to  the  organization  of  the  force, 
the  character  of  its  officers,  and  its  efficiency  in  every  particu- 
lar. The  commanders  were  given  to  understand  that  much  was 
expected  of  them ;  and  General  Pleasanton,  to  whose  command 
the  whole  was  entrusted,  seemed  anxious  to  recover  the  laurel? 
which  Averill  had  lost  in  his  encounter  with  Fitz  Lee. 

During  the  month  of  April,  persistent  attempts  were  made 
by  Pleasanton  to  penetrate  into  the  county  of  Culpepper,  and 
beat  up  General  Stuart's  quarters  there ;  his  expectation  being 
to  gain  information,  and  unmask  General  Lee's  position. 

These  attempts,  however,  were  unsuccessful.  The  Confed- 
erate cavalry  under  Stuart  confronted  the  enemy  at  every  point, 


THE   CAMPAIGN   OPENS.  399 

from  United  States  ford  below  the  confluence  of  the  rivers  to  the 
upper  waters  ;  whenever  the  Federal  cavalry  crossed  they  were 
forced  to  retire  with  loss,  and  up  to  the  moment  when  General 
Hooker's  army  was  put  in  motion,  the  enemy's  great  cavalry 
force  had  been  useless  in  gaining  for  the  commanding  general 
iuforrnation  of  General  Lee's  position,  movements,  or  designs. 

We  have  spoken  of  Lee's  position  in  general  terms.  The 
main  body  confronted  the  enemy's  camps  near  Fredericksburg, 
and  occupied  the  woods  in  rear  of  the  old  battle  field,  A  force 
was  posted  opposite  Ely's  and  United  States  fords  higher  up  the 
river,  and  the  various  fords  from  United  States  to  Hinson's,  far 
up  the  Rappahannock,  continued  to  be  picketed  by  Stuart's  caval- 
ry, which,  under  the  supervision  of  that  energetic  commander,  left 
no  avenue  of  advance  unguarded.  The  exposed  left  flank  was 
rightly  regarded  as  the  direction  from  which  the  Federal  forces 
would  attack,  with  the  view  of  turning  General  Lee's  position 
and  forcing  him  to  fall  back.  Extreme  vigilance  was  accord- 
ingly enjoined  upon  the  cavalry  pickets  ;  and  no  sooner  had  the 
Federal  column  put  itself  in  motion  on  the  upper  waters  than 
General  Stuart  telegraphed  the  fact  to  General  Lee. 

tt  would  seem  that  General  Hooker  decided  to  advance  upon 
receiving  information  that  the  "  only  army  to  oppose  him  was 
one  of  40,000  under  Jackson,  Lee  being  sick  and  his  army  scat- 
tered." The  presence  of  General  Longstreet,  with  the  greater 
part  of  his  corps  in  front  of  Suffolk,  south  of  James  River,  was 
well  known  to  the  Federal  commander  ;  and  he  rightly  decided 
that  if  it  was  possible  for  him  at  all  to  defeat  Lee's  army,  it  was 
possible  now. 

General  Hooker's  plan  is  said  to  have  been  as  follows : 

A  force  of  about  20,000  men  was  to  cross  the  Rappahannock 
near  the  old  battle  field  of  Fredericksburg,  and  thus  produce 
upon  the  Confederate  commander  the  impression  that  General 
Hooker  was  about  to  renew  the  attempt  in  which  General 
Burnside  had  failed.  Whilst  General  Lee's  attention  was  en- 
gaged by  the  demonstration  at  this  point,  the  main  body  of  the 
Federal  army  was  to  cross  the  Rappahannock  by  the  upper  fords, 


400  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

and  sweeping  down  with  rapidity  upon  General  Lee's  left  flank, 
take  a  strong  position  not  far  from  Fredericksburg.  The  col- 
umn which  had  crossed  below  was  then  to  recross  the  river, 
move  rapidly  up  the  northern  bank  to  the  fords  which  the  move 
ment  of  the  main  body  would  have  uncovered ;  and,  a  second 
time  crossing  to  the  southern  bank,  unite  with  the  other.  Thus 
the  whole  force  of  General  Hooker  would  be  concentrated  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  General  Lee  would  be 
compelled  to  leave  his  strong  position  on  the  Massaponnax  hills 
and  fight  upon  ground  chosen  by  his  adversary,  or  fall  back 
rapidly  to  prevent  that  adversary  from  attaining  his  rear  and  de- 
stroying him. 

In  order  to  insure  the  event  of  the  conflict  which  it  was  an- 
ticipated General  Lee  would  determine  upon  before  falling  back, 
measures  were  taken  to  interrupt  his  communications  so  as  to 
cut  oif  his  supplies  and  prevent  General  Longstreet  from  coming 
to  his  assistance.  An  extensive  cavalry  raid  against  the  Central 
Railroad  was  accordingly  made  a  part  of  the  programme  ;  and 
this,  it  was  expected,  would  render  General  Lee's  defeat  perfect- 
ly certain. 

Such  was  the  apparently  skilful  but  really  bungling  strategy 
by  which  General  Hooker  attempted  to  outgeneral  his  able  ad- 
versary. Formidable  as  his  scheme  appeared,  it  yet  had  a  fatal 
flaw.  The  Federal  commander  was  dividing  his  forces  in  pres- 
ence of  an  opponent  with  whose  ability  he  was  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted ;  and  was  exposing  himself  to  the  sudden  and  fatal 
blow  which  was  so  soon  to  fall.  The  movement  of  his  cavalry, 
from  which  he  expected  so  much,  was  the  most  fatal  error  of  all. 
By  thus  detaching  nearly  his  whole  mounted  force  from  the  main 
army,  General  Hooker  exposed  himself  to  the  great  flank  attack 
from  Jackson — which  the  presence  of  his  cavalry  would  have 
unmasked — and  insured  the  defeat  of  his  army. 

The  Federal  commander  seems  scarcely  to  have  doubted, 
however,  his  ability  to  defeat  General  Lee,  and  appears  to  have 
cherished  the  conviction  that  if  he  could  once  mass  his  forces  on 
the  southern  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  the  event  was  certain. 


GENERAL  HOOKER  ADVANCES.  401 

When  this  object  was  afterwards  attained,  General  Hooker  is- 
sued an  order  of  congratulation  to  his  troops,  in  which  he  de- 
clared that  he  occupied  a  position  so  strong  that  "  the  enemy 
must  either  ingloriously  fly  or  come  out  from  behind  his  defences, 
and  give  us  battle  on  our  own  ground,  where  certain  destruction 
waits  him." 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

GENERAL  HOOKER  ADVANCES. 

GENERAL  HOOKER'S  preparations  were  at  last  complete,  and 
on  Monday,  the  27th  day  of  April,  the  troops  were  put  in 
motion. 

The  5th,  llth,  and  12th  Corps  of  the  Federal  army,  under 
General  Slocum,  moved  with  eight  days'  rations  toward  Kelly's 
ford,  near  the  point  where  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad 
crosses  the  Rappahannock,  and  by  Tuesday  night  were  in  posi- 
tion and  ready  to  cross  on  the  ensuing  day.  On  Tuesday  night 
also,  the  1st,  3d,  and  6th  Corps  were  opposite  Franklin's  cross- 
ing, three  miles  below  Fredericksburg,  ready  to  cross  on  pon- 
toons simultaneously  with  the  force  above. 

Both  columns  were  on  Wednesday,  April  29th,  thrown 
across  the  Rappahannock  at  the  points  mentioned,  and  establish- 
ed themselves,  without  resistance,  upon  the  southern  bank  of  the 
river.  At  the  same  time  the  great  cavalry  expedition  under 
General  Stoneman  began  also  to  move,  its  route  being  through 
the  county  of  Culpepper,  in  the  direction  of  Gordonsville. 

General  Hooker  was  in  personal  command  of  the  main  body, 
which  crossed  at  Kelly's  ford,  and  now  steadily  moved  toward 
the  Rapidan. 

As  soon  as  the  designs  of  the  enemy  were  developed  in  the 
directions  of  Kelly's  ford,  General  Stuart  concentrated  his  cav- 
alry in  front  of  that  point,  and  observed  their  further  movements, 
26 


402  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

communicating  full  information  of  their  force  and  the  direction 
of  their  march  to  General  Lee.  As  the  Federal  column  ad* 
vanced,  he  hung  upon  its  front  and  flank,  and  by  a  successful 
attack  at  Madden's,  below  Brandy,  threw  the  enemy  into  dis- 
order, and  ascertained  from  prisoners  captured  that  the  column 
consisted  of  the  corps  of  Howard,  Slocum,  and  Meade.  The 
men  had  eight  days'  rations  in  their  haversacks,  and  supply  trains 
moved  with  the  force,  from  which  it  was  apparent  that  General 
Hooker  designed  a  real  advance  to  offer  battle  to  the  Southern 
army. 

Every  exertion  was  now  made  by  Stuart  to  harass  them  and 
impede  their  progress.  Discovering  speedily  that  they  were 
moving  toward  Ely's  and  Germanna  fords  on  the  Rapidan,  he 
hastened  with  General  Fitz  Lee's  brigade  around  by  Raccoon 
ford  above,  to  gain  the  front  of  their  column,  and  interpose  him- 
self between  them  and  Fredericksburg.  General  W.  H.  F.  Lee's 
brigade,  which  constituted  the  rest  of  the  command,  was  de- 
tached to  guard  the  upper  fords  of  the  Rapidan,  and  oppose 
Stoneman's  heavy  column  of  cavalry,  which  was  then  advancing 
in  the  direction  of  Gordonsville. 

The  great  events  occurring  in  another  portion  of  the  field 
will  prevent  us  from  returning  to  the  subject  of  this  extensive 
raid.  We  shall,  therefore,  speak  briefly  of  it  hci-e.  The  Federal 
cavalry  rapidly  advanced  and  attacked  General  W.  H.  F.  Lee 
upon  the  Rapidan,  but  were  delayed  there  for  a  considerable 
time  by  that  able  commander.  When  he  fell  back  in  accordance 
with  orders  from  General  R.  E.  Lee,  General  Stoneman  hastened 
across,  penetrated  the  country  to  the  Central  Railroad,  which  he 
tore  up  for  a  short  distance  near  Trevillian's  ;  passed  on  to- 
James  River,  ravaging  the  country  and  carrying  off  horses  ;  at- 
tempted  to  destroy  the  Columbia  aqueduct,  but  failed  ;  returned  ; 
retreated,  destroying  the  bridges  on  the  South  Anna  behind  him  ; 
and  hurried  back  across  the  Rapidan.  During  all  this  time  the 
horsemen  of  Lee  had  harassed  him  at  every  step  ;.  cut  off  de- 
tached portions  of  his  command ;  captured  many  otficers  and 
men ;  and  greatly  demoralized  his  men.  With  an  adequate 


GENERAL  HOOKEK  ADVANCES.  403 

force,  instead  of  a  few  hundred  men  upon  jaded  horses,  General 
W.  H.  F.  Lee  would  have  cut  off  General  Stoneman's  retreat 
and  compelled  his  surrender. 

The  Federal  columns  under  General  Hooker  had  meanwhile 
pressed  on  to  Germanna  and  Ely's  fords,  where  they  succeeded 
in  crossing  in  spite  of  resistance  from  Captain  Collins,  of  the  15th 
Virginia  cavalry.  At  the  same  time  Couch's  2d  Corps  prepared 
to  cross  at  United  States  ford  below. 

In  front  of  Banks'  and  Ely's  fords  General  Lee  had  two 
brigades  of  Anderson's  division,  Posey's  and  Mahone's,  and  one 
battery — in  all  about  8,000  men.  Upon  the  approach  of  the 
enemy  this  force  was  withdrawn  and  concentrated  at  Chancel- 
lorsville,  where  it  was  joined  upon  the  morning  of  the  30th  by 
Wright's  brigade,  which  had  been  sent  up  to  reenforce  it.  The 
enemy  still  pressing  on,  reenforced  now  by  Couch's  Corps  from 
United  States  ford — making  four  army  corps,  under  the  imme- 
diate command  of  General  Hooker — General  Anderson  fell  back 
from  Chancellorsville  to  Tabernacle  Church,  on  the  plank  road 
five  miles  below,  where  he  could  be  reenforced  by  the  old  Mine 
road,  running  thence  to  General  Lee's  position  near  Fredericks- 
burg. 

Such  were  the  relative  positions  of  the  adversaries  on  the 
night  of  Thursday,  the  30th  of  April.  General  Hooker  had  en- 
tirely succeeded  thus  far  in  his  plans  ;  his  main  body  was  over, 
Sedgwick's  column  was  recrossing  the  river  to  march  up  and 
reunite  with  him,  and  Stoneman  was  streaming  like  a  meteor 
toward  the  Central  Railroad.  Around  Chancellorsville,  the 
Federal  forces  were  rapidly  throwing  up  strong  intrenchments, 
and  two-thirds  of  the  difficulties  and  dangers  of  the  whole  cam- 
paign seemed  over. 

They  had  just  commenced. 


4:04:  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

\ 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

IN     THE     WILDERNESS. 
/ 

THE  battle  of  Chancellorsville  was  a  strange  conflict,  and  it 
took  place  in  a  singular  country.  Let  us  attempt  to  sketch  the 
features  of  the  landscape,  and  define  some  of  the  localities  of  the 
great  drama. 

Journeying  westward  from  Fredericksburg  over  a  broad  and 
excellent  road,  which  in  former  days  was  the  great  highway  be- 
tween the  lower  Rappahannock  and  the  mountains,  the  traveller 
is  called  upon  to  decide,  some  five  miles  from  the  town,  whether 
he  will  continue  in  the  road  which  he  is  pursuing — the  "  old  turn- 
pike " — or  follow  one  which  diverges  to  the  left,  and  is  known 
as  the  "  Orange  plank  road."  Both  lead  to  Chancellorsville, 
five  or  six  miles  distant — the  "  old  turnpike "  conducting  him 
straight  over  hill  and  through  dale  to  the  point  in  question  ;  the 
"  plank  road "  winding  around  so  as  to  pass  over  a  more  level 
country.  Taking  the  latter,  the  traveller  passes  the  ruins  of 
"  Tabernacle  Church,"  five  miles  from  Chancellorsville ;  then 
"  Aldrich's  house,"  two  miles  distant ;  and  reaches  the  locality 
of  the  great  struggle. 

Chancellorsville  was  (for  it  is  now  destroyed)  a  large  brick 
mansion,  with  ample  wings,  and  was  formerly  used  as  a  tavern 
for  the  entertainment  of  travellers  journeying  to  and  fro  from 
Fredericksburg  to  the  mountains.  Standing  in  front  of  the 
Cbancellorsville  house  and  looking  southward  the  traveller  had 
before  -him  extensive  fields  bounded  by  forests ;  behind  him  a 
belt  of  woods,  through  which  approached  the  main  road  from 
Ely's  and  United  States  fords,  a  few  miles  distant.  By  this  road 
the  Federal  forces  reached  Chancellorsville.  Two  or  three  miles 
in  front,  but  concealed  from  view  by  the  thick  growth  of  stunted 
oaks  and  pines,  was  "  the  Furnace,"  an  assemblage  of  buildings 
for  smelting  iron  ore.  By  this  locality,  Jackson  moved  from  a 


IN   THE   WILDERNESS.  405 

point  between  the  ",  Tabernacle  Church  "  and  Chancellorsville, 
to  gain  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy.  A  mile  or  two  distant  on 
the  right  was  a  plain  wooden  dwelling  house,  on  the  left  side  of 
the  main  road,  known  as  "  Melzi  Chancellor's."  Between  this 
house  and  Chancellorsville,  Jackson  fell.  A  few  hundred  yards 
from  it,  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  on  the  right  of  the  road,  was  a 
small  white  building,  known  as  "  Wilderness  Church."  Just 
beyond  this  point  the  old  turnpike,  which  had  been  swallowed  up 
at  Chancellorsville  by  the  plank  road,  again  left  it — the  plank 
diverging  to  the  left,  the  turnpike  running  straight  on.  Two  or 
three  miles  beyond  Chancellorsville  the  plank  road  was  joined 
by  a  branch,  the  Germanna  ford  plank  road  coming  from  the 
northwest  and  crossing  the  old  turnpike  at  "  Wilderness  Run," 
five  miles  from  Chancellorsville,  where  stood  and  still  stands  a 
tall  wooden  building,  called  the  "  Wilderness  Tavern."  Here 
Jackson  was  taken  when  he  was  wounded.  Last  of  all,  about 
half  a  mile  from  the  angle  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Orange 
and  Germanna  plank  roads,  an  eccentric  independent  highway 
known  as  .the  "  Brock  Road,"  and  running  from  Spottsylvania 
Court-House  to  Ely's  ford,  crossed  the  Orange  road  and  the  old 
turnpike,  keeping  on  its  course  without  respect  to  either.  By 
the  "  Brock  road  "  Jackson  attained  the  old  turnpike,  and  made 
his  attack  upon  the  enemy's  right  and  rear. 

The  country  around  Chancellorsville  was  known  as  "  The 
Wilderness,"  and  the  bare  fields,  alternating  with  dense  and  im- 
passable thicketg,  communicated  to  the  region  an  appearance 
inexpressively  drear  and  melancholy.  The  houses  were  few  and 
lost  in  the  interminable  pines — often  no  indications  of  human 
habitation  were  seen  for  many  miles  ;  and  the  only  sign  of  life 
which  greeted  the  lonely  traveller  as  he  pursued  his  dreary  jour- 
ney in  the  evening  over  the  interminable  plank  road,  winding  on 
through  the  thick  wood,  was  the  mournful  cry  of  the  whippoor- 
will — that  sound  which  was  the  last  to  greet  the  ears  of  so  many 
dying  soldiers  on  the  night  of  the  great  battle  about  to  make  this 
sombre  region  more  gloomy  and  depressing  than  before. 

In  this  country  of  unending  thickets  and  narrow  and  winding 


406  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

avenues,  General  Hooker  had  established  himself,  carefully  add 
ing  to  the  natural  strength  of  the  position.  His  troops  were 
massed  around  Chancellorsville,  and  the  approaches  to  the  cen- 
tral point  were  obstructed  in  every  direction  by  felled  trees, 
earthworks  for  infantry,  and  redoubts  for  artillery.  From  Melzi 
Chancellor's  on  the  right,  around  toward  the  Furnace  to  the 
southward,  and  across  the  plank  road  and  the  old  turnpike  below, 
these  defences  extended  in  an  unbroken  line,  or  rather  lines — for 
he  had  constructed  additional  works  behind  the  first  line,  upon 
which  to  fall  back  if  hard  pressed.  The  approach  to  these  de- 
fences was  over  narrow  roads,  completely  commanded  by  hun- 
dreds of  pieces  of  artillery,  or  through  thickets  where  the  growth 
was  so  dense  as  in  many  localities  to  prevent  the  passage  of  a 
human  body  between  the  trunks  of  the  trees  or  the  matted  boughs. 
In  front  of  all  bristled  an  elaborate  abatis  of  felled  trees,  which 
it  seemed  impossible  for  troops  tp  charge  across  without  being 
annihilated.  Yet  those  obstacles  were  surmounted  ;  that  bristling 
abatis  passed,  and  the  Federal  works  carried  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet. 

General  Hooker  had  thus  guarded  elaborately  against  that 
attack  which,  in  spite  of  his  order  to  his  troops,  he  probably  ex- 
pected. Federal  writers  assert  that  Chancellorsville  was  selected 
as  enabling  General  Hooker  to  there  intercept  the  army  of  Gen- 
eral Lee  on  its  "  line  of  retreat  toward  Gordonsville  ; "  but  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  the  Federal  commander  there  halted  to 
avail  himself  of  the  character  of  the  ground  to  repel  an  attack, 
and  from  the  very  reasonable  apprehension  that  if  he  advanced 
further  he  would  expose  his  own  "  line  of  retreat"  in  case  of 
disaster,  back  to  the  Rappahannock. 

The  left  wing  of  the  Federal  army,  composed  of  three  army 
corps  under  General  Sedgwick,  and  numbering  about  20,000 
men,  crossed,  as  we  have  seen,  three  miles  below  Fredericksburg, 
on  Wednesday,  April  29th,  and  General  Jackson,  whose  com- 
mand was  opposite  that  point,  promptly  drew  up  his  corps  in  line 
of  battle  to  repel  the  anticipated  attack.  D.  H.  Hill's  division, 
commanded  by  General  Rodes,  was  formed  on  the  right  of  and 


IN   THE   WILDERNESS.  407 

perpendicular  to  the  railroad,  near  Hamilton's  crossing,  his 
right  extending  to  Massaponax  Creek  ;  and  this  line  was 
strongly  and  rapidly  fortified  by  the  troops  under  fire  from  the 
Federal  artillery  on  the  northern  bank  of  the  river. 

As  the  enemy  did  not  advance,  however,  either  on  that  day 
or  the  next,  it  became  apparent  that  General  Sedgwick's  move- 
ment was  merely  a  feint  intended  to  occupy  the  attention  of  the 
Confederate  commander,  while  the  main  body  of  the  Federal 
army  crossed  at  some  other  point. 

This  view  of  the  enemy's  designs  was  soon  confirmed  by  in-^ 
telligence  from  General  Stuart  that  General  Hooker  had  crossed 
the  Rappahannock  at  Kelly's  ford,  on  the  same  day,  and  was 
then  moving  steadily  t&ward  the  Rapidan.  It  was  obvious  that 
General  Sedgwick's  part  of  the  programme  was  to  retain  General 
Lee  at  Fredericksbui'g,  not  to  make  an  attack  ;  and  that  General 
Hooker  designed  to  reach  Chancellorsville,  or  some  other  point 
on  General  Lee's  flank,  from  which  he  would  be  able  to  take 
his  position  near  Fredericksburg  in  flank  and  reverse. 

The  resolution  of  General  Lee  was  promptly  taken.  Jack-^ 
son  was  ordered  to  leave  one  division  of  his  corps  in  front  of 
General  Sedgwick  near  Hamilton's  crossing,  and  proceed  with 
the  three  others  by  the  military  road  to  Tabernacle  Church, 
five  miles  from  Chancellorsville ;  and  taking  command  of  An^ 
derson's  force  at  that  point,  "  attack  and  repulse  the  enemy." 

This  order  reached  Jackson  about  8  o'clock  in  the  evening,, 
and  at  midnight  the  three  divisions  were  on  the  march  to  Taber* 
nacle  Church.  They  were  A.  P.  HiU's  division,  D.  H.  Hill's,, 
commanded  by  General  Rodes,  and  Trimble's,  commanded  by 
General  Colston. 

The  command  reached  Tabernacle  Church  on  Friday,  May 
1st,  and  continued  to  advance  up  the  plank  road  toward  Alrich's, 
when  heavy  firing  from  the  old  turnpike  on  the  right  indicated 
that  Anderson,  who  had  been  ordered  to  move  up  by  that  road,, 
had  met  the  enemy.  The  force  with  which  he  came  in  contact 
proved  to  be  Sykes'  division  of  regulars,  and  an  obstinate  resist^ 
ance  was  offered  to  his  further  advance.  The  firing  becoming 


iOS  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

very  close  and  heavy,  Jackson  halted  his  column,  and  detached  the 
brigades  of  Ramseur,  McGowan,  Heth,  and  Lane,  which  were 
sent  forward  to  support  General  Anderson.  The  remainder  of 
the  corps  was  then  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  on  the  ridge  in 
rear,  and  directed  to  wait  for  further  orders. 

Jackson  continued  to  press  the  enemy  back  toward  Chancel- 
lorsville,  in  spite  of  stubborn  resistance,  until  he  found  himself 
in  front  of  their  first  line  of  intrenchments,  and  was  subjected  to 
the  fire  of  the  artillery  in  their  earthworks,  which  the  dense 
woods  had  up  to  that  moment  masked  from  view.  The  heavy 
abatis  in  front  of  these  defences  rendered  the  result  of  an  attack 
very  doubtful ;  and  finding  the  day  far  spent,  Jackson  determined 
to  defer  further  operations  until  the  next  morning.  The  enemy 
had  now  retired  from  his  front,  and  that  night  the  command 
bivouacked  near  Alrich's  house,  about  two  miles  from  Chancel- 
lorsville. 

While  these  events  were  occurring  in  front  of  the  enemy's 
line  of  works  stretching  north  and  south  across  the  plank  road 
and  old  turnpike,  a  hot  artillery  duel  took  place  near  the  "  Fur- 
nace," a  point,  as  we  have  said,  about  two  miles  south  of  Chan- 
cellorsville,  directly  in  front  of  the  Federal  right  wing.  General 
Wright  had  been  sent  with  his  brigade  to  this  point  to  feel  the 
enemy,  and  here  he  was  joined  by  General  Stuart,  who  had  con- 
trived to  harass  General  Hooker's  column  and  impede  his  advance 
by  charges  of  cavalry,  and  the  fire  of  his  batteries  of  horse  artillery, 
all  along  the  road  from  Germanna  ford.  The  Federal  infantry 
occupied  a  commanding  position  about  1,200  yards  in  front,  and, 
with  the  design  of  driving  them  from  this  ground,  which  General 
Wright  wished  to  secure,  General  Stuart  directed  Major  Beck- 
ham,  his  chief  of  artillery,  to  open  upon  the  enemy  with  four 
pieces  of  his  horse  artillery.  This  was  done,  and  the  Federal 
infantry  were  driven  from  the  crest ;  but  the  fire  of  Stuart's 
pieces  drew  upon  them  the  concentrated  fire  of  several  batteries 
which  were  masked  behind  the  woods,  and  now  suddenly  opened 
all  their  thunders  at  the  same  moment.  Further  to  the  left, 
from  a  position  on  Talley's  farm,  Captain  Breathed,  of  the  horse 


IN   THE   WILDERNESS.  409 

artillery,  also  opened  on  the  Federal  infantry  with  a  section  of 
rifle  pieces  ;  but  in  the  conflict  at  the  "  Furnace  "  the  Confeder 
ates  sustained  considerable  loss.  General  Stuart  here  lost  his 
efficient  Adjutant-General  Major  R.  Channing  Price,  a  young 
officer  of  great  courage  and  capacity.  All  who  knew  him 
loved  him,  and  his  death  was  a  loss  to  the  service. 

Night  put  an  end  to  the  contest  in  this  portion  of  the  field, 
and  both  armies  prepared  for  the  arduous  struggle  which  was  to 
take  place  on  the  ensuing  day. 

Meanwhile  General  Lee  had  arrived  with  the  remainder  of 
Anderson's  and  McLaws'  division.  And  a  consultation  was  held 
to  determine  upon  the  further  plan  of  action.  The  position  of 
the  Federal  forces  was  peculiar.  We  have  described  it  in  general 
terms  on  a  preceding  page,  but  note  here  some  additional  par- 
ticulars relating  to  it,  which  will  convey  a  better  idea  of  the 
difficulties  with  which  the  Confederate  commander  was  called 
upon  to  contend.  General  Hooker  had  expected  an  attack 
either  from  the  direction  of  Fredericksburg  on  the  line  of  the 
old  turnpike,  or  from  the  direction  of  Spottsylvania  Court-House, 
by  way  of  the  "  Furnace."  Against  an  assault  from  these  two 
quarters  he  had  guarded  himself  by  a  double  line  of  battle  some- 
what resembling  two  sides  of  a  square,  his  right  ranging 
along  the  plank  road  in  front  of  Chancellorsville  nearly  east  and 
west,  his  left  extending  toward  the  river  nearly  north  and  south, 
the  angle  where  the  two  lines  joined  each  other  being  below  and 
not  far  from  the  Chancellorsville  house.  The  abatis  in  front 
of  the  works  was,  as  we  have  said,  almost  impassable,  the 
dense  thickets  presented  a  barrier  which  no  courage  could  over- 
come ;  and  behind  the  lines,  as  upon  his  flanks,  the  Federal  com- 
mander had  posted  his  numerous  artillery  ready  to  sweep  the 
roads  as  the  Southerners  advanced. 

Humanly  speaking,  General  Hooker's  position  was  impreg- 
nable against  an  attack  in  front,  except  with  a  loss  of  life  in 
storming  it  frightful  to  contemplate  ;  and  the  design  of  assailing 
him  from  the  east  or  the  south  was  speedily  abandoned. 

An  attack  upon  one  of  his  flanks  promised  better  results  ;  and 


410  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

Jackson's  suggestion  that  he  should  move  well  to  the  left  au<! 
make  a  sudden  attack  upon  the  enemy's  right  and  rear  above 
Chancellorsville,  while  another  assault"  was  made  in  front,  was 
speedily  assented  to  by  General  Lee.  By  this  movement,  the 
elaborate  series  of  defences  thrown  up  by  the  enemy  would  be 
rendered  useless,  their  plan  of  battle  reversed ;  and  they  would 
be  compelled  to  face  to  the  rear  and  fight,  if  they  fought  at  all, 
at  a  disadvantage. 

Those  who  are  familiar  with  the  bent  of  Jackson's  genius 
will  easily  comprehend  the  alacrity  with  which  he  proceeded  to 
carry  out  General  Lee's  orders.  These  sudden  and  mortal 
blows  struck  at  an  enemy  rejoicing  in  the  strength  of  his  de- 
fences, and  prepared  to  hurl  destruction  on  the  assailant  while 
he  himself  is  protected,  always  possessed  an  inexpressible  charm 
for  the  great  leader  who  had  delivered  so  many  such  ;  and  Jack- 
eon  now  saw  the  field  open  for  a  supreme  exhibition  of  military 
genius,  and  a  decisive  victory. 

He  knew  the  importance  of  celerity  and  secrecy  of  move- 
ment, and  every  preparation  was  made  for  the  march  at  an  early 
hour  on  the  succeeding  morning.  No  precautions  were  omitted 
calculated  to  mask  the  movement  from  the  enemy.  Experienced 
guides  were  promptly  secured,  and  General  Stuart  was  ready 
with  his  cavalry  to  cooperate  in  the  enterprise  by  guarding  the 
front  and  flanks  of  the  column,  driving  off  scouting  parties,  and 
communicating  prompt  intelligence  of  the  enemy's  position  or 
movements.  By  the  assistance  of  this  experienced  commander 
of  cavalry,  and  through  the  employment  of  due  precaution,  Jack- 
son did  not  doubt  his  ability  to  reach  the  point  where  he  intended 
to  attack,  without  being  discovered,  and  to  strike  a  blow  which 
would  decide  the  fate  of  the  enemy. 


CHANCELLOKSVILLE.  41 J 

CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

CHANCELLOKSVILLE. 

ON  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  May  Jackson  was  early  in  the 
saddle,  and  pushed  forward  his  preparations  with  vigor,  in  spite 
of  a  distressing  cold  which  he  had  caught  by  sleeping  without 
sufficient  covering  to  protect  him  from  the  humid  airs  of  the 
-chill  spring  night. 

This  cold  had  resulted  from  his  kindly  solicitude  for  the  com- 
fort of  another.  In  the  hasty  march  he  seems  to  have  left  be- 
hind him  his  blankets,  and  one  of  his  aides  threw  over  him  a 
heavy  cape,  as  some  addition  to  his  scant  covering.  During  the 
night  Jackson  bethought  him  that  the  young  man  might  be  suf- 
fering from  cold  in  consequence  of  this  generosity,  and,  rising 
quietly,  he  spread  the  cape  over  the  youthful  sleeper,  and  again 
lay  down  without  it.  The  consequence  was  a  severe  cold  ;  and 
this  cold  terminated  in  that  attack  of  pneumonia  which,  occur- 
ring at  a  time  when  he  was  enfeebled  by  his  wound,  resulted  in 
his  death.  If  he  had  not  thrown  that  cape  over  his  sleeping  aide, 
it  is  probable  that  he  would  have  survived  his  wounds. 

In  spite,  however,  of  this  severe  indisposition,  Jackson  had 
never  exhibited  more  ardor  and  energy  than  when  undertaking 
this  great  movement.  Its  splendid  details  and  triumphant  result 
were  no  doubt  mapped  out  in  his  brain,  and  an  unwonted  ex- 
citement mastered  him.  The  enterprise  was  one  which  demand- 
ed the  highest  traits  of  military  genius.  He  had  undertaken  to 
move,  without  being  discovered,  along  the  entire  front  of  the 
enemy,  and  in  close  proximity  to  their  lines  ;  to  make  his  way  by 
unfrequented  roads  and  through  dense  thickets  to  their  flank  and 
rear,  and  to  attack  the  large  force  of  General  Hooker  in  his 
intrenchments  above  Chancellorsville,  and  put  every  thing  upon 
the  issue  of  the  struggle.  If  one  step  went  wrong  in  the  pro- 
gramme, his  purpose  would  be  defeated  ;  if  he  was  repulsed  in 


412  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

the  assault,  there  was  no  possibility  of  receiving  assistance  from 
General  Lee  ;  upon  his  skill  and  soldiership  depended  not  only 
the  success  of  the  movement  which  he  was  about  to  make,  but 
the  very  existence  of  the  great  army  corps  which  he  com- 
manded. 

The  column  commenced  its  march  at  daybreak.  Leaving 
the  plank  road  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Chancellorsville, 
and  occupying  the  attention  of  the  Federal  forces  by  the  fire  of  a 
battery  under  Major  Pegram,  Jackson  pressed  on  steadily  by 
the  Old  Mine  road  in  the  direction  of  the  Furnace  ;  the  cavalry 
under  General  Stuart  moving  in  front  and  on  the  flanks  of  the 
column,  to  mask  the  troops  from  the  enemy.  At  the  Furnace 
the  23d  Georgia,  Colonel  Best,  was  left  to  guard  the  road  lead- 
ing from  that  point  toward  Chancellorsville,  in  order  to  protect 
the  column  against  an  attack  on  its  flank  in  passing,  and  Jack- 
son continued  to  advance.  As  the  rear  of  the  column  reached 
the  Furnace,  the  anticipated  attack  took  place  ;  the  enemy  sud- 
denly advancing  and  assailing  the  23d  Georgia  so  unexpectedly 
that  the  whole  regiment,  with  the  exception  of  Colonel  Best  and 
a  few  men,  was  surrounded  and  captured.  The  trains  of  the 
corps  were  also  attacked  by  the  Federal  forces,  but  Colonel  J. 
Thompson  Brown  promptly  placed  his  artillery  in  position,  and, 
after  a  brief  but  hot  engagement,  the  enemy  were  repulsed  and 
compelled  to  retreat  toward  Chancellorsville. 

The  design  of  the  Confederate  commander  seemed  thus  to  have 
been  unmasked  ;  but  such  was  not  the  fact.  The  enemy  still  had 
no  suspicion  of  his  real  intentions,  and  the  direction  in  which  his 
column  now  moved  no  doubt  explains  this  circumstance.  The  road 
which  Jackson  followed,  bends  southward  at  the  Furnace  for  a 
short  distance,  returning,  as  it  were,  toward  the  point  from  which 
it  came  ;  and  the  enemy's  writers  assert  that  they  supposed  the 
Southern  troops  to  be  in  full  retreat  toward  Spottsylvania  Court- 
House.  Such  was  the  fatal  misconception  of  General  Hooker — 
affording  one  more  proof  of  the  soundness  of  Napoleon's  maxim, 
that  the  first  necessity  of  a  general  is  to  study  the  character  of 
his  opponent.  General  Hooker  ought  to  have  been  sufficiently 


OHANCELLOESVILLE.  413 

acquainted  with  the  character  of  Jackson  to  understand  that  to 
retreat  without  a  battle  was  no  part  of  the  military  philosophy 
of  the  man  of  Kernstown  ;  and  that  the  soldier  who  had  flanked 
General  McClellan  and  gotten  in  rear  of  General  Pope,  would 
probably  try  the  same  strategy  against  General  Hooker. 

The  column  continued  its  rapid  march — its  movement  com- 
pletely masked  by  the  cavalry  which  attacked  and  drove  off  the 
reconnoitring  parties  of  the  enemy — its  destination  undreamed 
of  by  the  Federal  army,  now  engrossed  by  Lee's  attack  in  front. 
Hour  after  hour  the  march  continued  without  cessation ;  the 
troops  penetrating  with  difficulty  the  wild  country  through 
which  they  moved ;  the  artillery  slowly  toiling  on  through  the 
narrow  roads  over  which  the  heavy  engines  of  war  had  never 
before  moved.  Jackson  rode  at  the  head  of  his  column,  and 
General  Stuart  with  his  cavalry  continued  to  protect  the  front 
and  flank  from  observation.  Reaching  the  Brock  road,  running, 
as  we  have  said,  from  Spottsylvauia  Court-House  to  Ely's  ford, 
and  crossing  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  Jackson  continued  to 
follow  it  until  he  attained  the  point  where  it  intersects  the 
Orange  plank  road,  not  far  from  the  plank  road  to  Germanna 
ford,  and  about  three  miles  from  Chancellor sville. 

At  this  point  General  Fitz  Lee,  commanding  the  cavalry 
under  General  Stuart,  informed  Jackson  that,  by  ascending  an 
elevation  near  at  hand,  he  could  obtain  a  good  view  of  the  posi- 
tions of  the  enemy,  who,  taking  him  for  a  simple  cavalry  vidette, 
would  pay  no  attention  to  him.  He  accordingly  proceeded  to 
the  point  indicated,  and  from  which  the  Federal  cavalry  had 
been  driven.  A  single  glance  showed  him  the  position  of  the 
Federal  line  of  battle.  He  was  jiot  yet  sufficiently  on  the  ene- 
my's flank,  and,  turning  to  one  of  his  aides,  he  said,  briefly, 
"Tell  my  column  to  cross  that  road."  He  referred  to  the 
Orange  plank  road,  and,  hastening  back,  placed  himself  again  al 
the  head  of  the  troops,  who  continued  to  move  by  the  Brock  road, 
and  advanced  without  delay  to  the  old  turnpike.* 

*  General  Fitz  Lee  gives  us  this  incident. 


414  LITE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSO1ST. 

The  movement  had  thus  far  been  a  complete  success.  Jack- 
son had  reached  without  discovery  a  position  where  he  could  at- 
tack the  enemy  in  flank  and  reverse,  and  orders  were  instantly 
issued  to  prepare  the  troops  for  action.  Those  who  saw  him  at 
this  moment  declare  that  he  had  never  exhibited  greater  anima- 
tion and  ardor.  The  troops  moved  rapidly  to  their  positions, 
and  line  of  battle  was  promptly  formed  ;  Rodes'  division  in  front,, 
on  the  left  of  the  turnpike ;  A.  P.  Hill's  'two  hundred  yards  in 
rear  of  the  first  line  ;  and  Colston's  at  the  same  distance  in  rear 
of  the  second.  This  disposition  of  the  forces  was  subsequently 
modified,  however,  in  consequence  of  the  dense  undergrowth, 
which  rendered  it  almost  impossible  for  the  troops  to  move  for- 
ward in  extended  line  of  battle,  and  Rodes  only  advanced  in  line, 
the  two  other  divisions,  with  the  artillery,  moving  in  column 
along  the  road.  The  only  artillery  which  was  in  front  and 
ready  for  action  at  the  opening  of  the  engagement,  was  a  section 
of  the  Stuart  Horse  Artillery,  under  Captain  Breathed ;  and 
these  pieces  moved  in  front  of  Rodes,  having  been  ordered  by 
General  Stuart  to  keep  a  few  yards  in  rear  of  the  skirmishers, 
which  were  thrown  forward  about  four  hundred  yards  in  ad- 
vance. 

If  the  reader  has  understood  our  verbal  chart  of  the  country, 
he  will  perceive  that  the  enemy  was  now  taken  at  a  fatal  disad- 
vantage. The  old  turnpike  ran  straight  into  the  flank  and  rear 
of  the  Federal  right  wing,  and  Jackson's  design  was  to  advance 
rapidly  on  the  line  of  this  road,  extend  his  line  of  battle  well  to 
the  left,  and,  swinging  round  with  his  left,  cut  off  the  enemy's  re- 
treat to  the  fords  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  capture  them.  This 
strange  wilderness  of  impenetrable  thickets  and  narrow  roads 
presented  almost  insuperable  obstacles  to  the  success  of  such  an 
undertaking ;  but  such  was  the  confidence  of  the  Confederate 
commander  in  his  veteran  corps,  trained  to  overcome  all  diffi- 
culties upon  many  battle  fields,  that  he  looked  forward  to  victory 
as  within  his  grasp. 

The  Federal  lines  extended  across  the  old  turnpike,  close 
now  to  his  front ;  behind  these,  below  Melzi  Chancellor's,  they 


CIIANCELLOKSVILLE.  415 

occupied  strong  earthworks,  protecting  the  flank  of  their  right 
wing;  and  on  the  ridge  at  Chancellorsville,  their  epaukments 
were  mounted  with  rifled  artillery,  ready  to  sweep  the  approaches 
from  every  quarter.  General  Hooker  had  been  joined  at  this 
time  by  the  1st  and. 3d  Corps  of  General  Sedgwick's  column,  and 
had  six  army  corps  at  Chancellorsville.  The  force  of  General 
Lee,  in  the  absence  of  Longstreet,  was  about  35,000  men  in  all 
— and  of  these  Jackson  had  taken  22,000  to  make  his  attack 
upon  the  Federal  right.* 

Jackson  had  moved  so  skilfully  and  silently  that  up  to  the 
moment  of  attack  the  enemy  did  not  so  much  as  suspect  his  pres- 
ence. Immediately  in  front  of  him  was  Sigel's  llth  Corps,  com- 
manded on  this  day  by  General  Howard ;  and  Fate  decreed  that 
this  force  should  receive  the  last  charge  of  Jackson. 

That  charge  was  sudden,  unlocked  for,  decisive.  At  fifteen 
minutes  past  five  in  the  evening  Jackson  gave  the  order  for  his 
lines  to  advance  and  charge  the  enemy's  works ;  and  at  the 
word  the  men  rushed  forward  with  tumultuous  cheers,  bearing 
straight  down  on  the  flank  of  the  Federal  right  wing.  The  two 
guns  of  Breathed  opened  a  rapid  fire  in  front  of  the  line — lim- 
bering up  and  advancing  at  a  gallop  to  secure  new  positions  as 
the  infantry  rushed  on — and  Eodes  burst  like  a  thunderbolt  upon 
the  unsuspicious  troops  of  Howard,  who  ran  from  their  suppers, 
which  they  were  cooking,  to  'seize  their  arms  and  endeavor  to 
defend  themselves.  Rodes'  men  debouched  at  a  double-quick 
from  the  woods,  uttering  loud  cheers,  and,  attacking  the  enemy 
in  front  and  flank,  pressed  on  to  their  intrenchments  and  stormed 
them,  capturing  several  hundred  prisoners  and  five  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery. So  sudden  was  this  attack  that  scarcely  any  organized 
resistance  was  offered  to  the  assault — the  Federal  forces  flying 
in  the  wildest  confusi»n,  leaving  the  field  strewed  with  their  guns 
and  knapsacks. 

In  this  attack  the  men  of  Colston's  division  bore  a  prominent 

*  General  Lee's  numbers  are  not  understated  here ;  and  th§  force  under 
Jackson  is  exactly  stated,  on  the  authority  of  Colonel  A.  S.  Pendleton,  his 
assistant  adjutant-general,  an  officer  of  very  high  character  and  intelligence. 


416  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL    JACKSOX. 

part.  They  advanced  with  great  enthusiasm ;  soon  caught  up 
with  General  Rodes'  line  ;  and,  mingling  with  it  in  inextricable 
confusion,  went  over  the  enemy's  works,  and  aided  in  completing 
the  rout  of  the  Federal  forces. 

Colonel  Crutchfield,  Jackson's  chief  of  artillery,  now  hurried 
forward  his  batteries,  and  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  the  enemy's 
epaulements  near  Qhancellorsville,  which  drew  from  their  artil- 
lery a  furious  response.  This  fire  was  directed  down  the  road, 
however,  and  inflicted  small  loss  upon  the  Confederate  infantry. 
They  were  advancing  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  road,  led  by 
Jackson  in  person,  and  those  who  saw  him  at  this  moment  de- 
clare that  he  seemed  completely  carried  away  by  the  excitement 
of  the  moment.  He  leaned  forward  on  his  horse,  extending  his 
arm  far  in  front,  as  though  he  wished  to  "push  the  men  for- 
ward," and  his  voice  was  heard  exclaiming,  "  Press  forward ' 
press  forward ! "  every  few  minutes  during  the  entire  attack 
When  not  thus  mastered  by  the  ardor  of  battle,  his  right  hand 
was  raised  aloft  with  that  gesture  now  familiar  to  his  men,  a& 
though  he  were  praying  to  the  God  of  battles  for  victory.* 

The  charge  of  the  Confederates  had  resulted  in  the  complete 
rout  of  the  right  wing  of  the  Federal  army.  Jackson  had  burst 
upon  them  from  the  woods  so  suddenly  that  they  could  not  or 
did  not  make  the  least  resistance.  Whole  regiments  ran  without 
firing  a  shot.  Batteries  went  off  at  a  gallop,  ran  into  trees  and 
fences,  and  were  captured  and  turned  upon  them.  At  a  single 

*  "Frequently,  during  the  fiercest  of  the  conflict,  he  would  stop,  raise  his 
hand,  and  turn  his  eyes  toward  heaven,  as  if  praying  for  a  blessing  on  our 
arms.  The  frequency  with  which  this  was  done  that  evening  attracted  the 
attention  of  all  with  him.  Our  troops  made  repeated  charges,  driving  the 
enemy  before  them  every  time,  which  caused  loud  and  long-continued  cheering 
along  our  entire  line,  which  was  ever  the  signal  for  victory — and  General 
Jackson  would  invariably  raise  his  hand  and  give  thanks  to  Him  who  gave 
the  victory.  I  have  never  seen  him  seem  so  well  pleased  with  the  progress 
and  results  of  a  fight  as  on  that  occasion.  On  several  occasions  during  this 
fight,  as  he  gassed  the  dead  bodies  of  some  of  our  veterans,  he  halted,  raise  i 
his  hand  as  if  to  ask  a  blessing  upon  them,  and  to  pray  God  to  save  their 
souls." — MS.  of  Captain  Wilbourn,  of  Jackson's  staff. 


CHANCELLOKSVILLE.  417 

• 

blow  Jackson  had  paralyzed  the  right  wing  of  the  Federal  army, 
and  they  were  rushing  in  complete  disorder  upon  the  reserves. 
A  writer  in  a  Northern  journal  thus  describes  the  scene : 

"  The  flying  Germans  came  dashing  over  the  field  in  crowds, 
stampeding  and  running  as  only  men  do  run  when  convinced  that 
sure  destruction  is  awaiting  them.  I  must  confess  that  I  have 
no  ability  to  do  justice  to  the  scenes  that  followed.  It  was  my 
lot  to  be  in  the  centre  of  that  field  when  the  panic  burst  upon  us. 
May  I  never  be  a  witness  to  another  such  scene  !  On  one  hand 
was  a  solid  column  of  infantry  retreating  at  double-quick  ;  on  the 
other  was  a  dense  mass  of  beings  who  were  flying  as  fast  as  their 
legs  could  carry  them,  followed  up  by  the  rebels  pouring  their 
murderous  volleys  in  upon  us,  yelling  and  hooting,  to  increase 
the  confusion  ;  hundreds  of  cavalry  horses,  left  riderless  at  the 
first  discharge  from  the  rebels,  dashing  frantically  about  in  all 
directions ;  scores  of  batteries  flying  from  the  field ;  battery 
wagons,  ambulances,  horses,  men,  cannon,  caissons,  all  jumbled 
and  tumbled  together  in  one  inextricable  mass — and  the  murder- 
ous fire  of  the  rebels  still  pouring  in  upon  them !  To  add  to  the 
terror  of  the  occasion  there  was  but  one  means  of  escape  from 
the  field,  and  that  through  a  little  narrow  neck  or  ravine  washed 
out  by  Scott's  Creek.  Toward  this  the  confused  mass  plunged 
headlong.  For  a  moment  it  seemed  as  if  no  power  could  avert 
the  frightful  calamity  that  threatened  the  entire  army.  On  came 
the  panic-stricken  crowd,  terrified  artillery  riders  spurring  and 
lashing  their  horses  to  their  utmost ;  ambulances  upsetting  and 
being  dashed  to  pieces  against  trees  and  stumps  ;  horses  dashing 
over  the  field ;  men  flying  and  crying  with  alarm — a  perfect  tor- 
rent of  passion,  apparently  uncontrollable.  The  men  ran  in  all 
directions.  They  all  seemed  possessed  with  an  instinctive  idea 
of  the  shortest  and  most  direct  line  from  the  point  whence  they 
started  to  the  United  States  Mine  ford,  and  the  majority  of  them 
did  not  stop  until  they  had  reached  the  ford.  Many  of  them  on 
reaching  the  river  dashed  in  and  swam  to  the  north  side,  and  are 
supposed  to  be  running  yet.  The  stampede  was  universal ;  the 
disgrace  general." 
27 


4:18  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

• 

The  attack  thus  briefly  described  lasted  for  two  or  three  hours 
The  first  charge  took  place  at  half-past  five  or  six  in  the  after« 
noon,  and  the  Confederate  troops  continued  to  follow  the  enemy 
until  after  eight  at  night.  The  tangled  undergrowth  of  the  re- 
gion rendered  successful  pursuit  almost  impossible  ;  but  through 
this  obstinate  barrier  the  troops  rushed  on,  driving  the  enemy 
before  them  until  they  took  refuge  in  the  strong  works  around 
Chancellorsville.  The  Southern  lines  continued  to  press  forward 
until  they  reached  the  ridge  overlooking  that  upon  which  Chan- 
cellorsville is  situated,  about  half  a  mile  distant,  when,  in  the 
darkness,  the  right  of  the  Confederate  line  became  entangled  io 
a  heavy  abatis  of  felled  trees,  and  the  troops  were  compelled  to 
halt. 

They  were  now  in  very  great  confusion — the  divisions  of 
Rodes  and  Colston  having  been  mingled  almost  inextricably — 
and  it  was  necessary  to  desist  from  the  attack  in  order  to  re-form 
the  commands.  This  was  rendered  still  more  necessary  by  a  sud- 
den fire  from  the  Federal  batteries  in  front,  scarcely  hah0  a  mile 
distant,  which  swept  the  road  and  woods  with  shot  and  shell,  still 
further  adding  to  the  confusion  resulting  from  the  charge. 
Rodes'  division  was  accordingly  ordered  to  fall  back,  and,  direct- 
ing General  A.  P.  Hill  to  move  with  his  division  to  the  front, 
Jackson  rode  forward  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  position. 

It  was  now  nearly  ten  o'clock  at  night.  The  Wilderness 
slept  in  the  tranquil  light  of  the  moon,  and  from  the  dark 
thickets  came  the  continuous  and  melancholy  cry  of  the  whip- 
poorwill,  sounding  strangely  amid  that  scene  upon  which  so 
many  human  beings  had  just  met  in  close  and  deadly  encounter. 
The  silence  was  unbroken, -except  by  these  plaintive  cries  of  the 
bird  of  night,  mingled  with  the  tramp  and  hum  of  men,  as  they 
moved  to  their  allotted  positions  for  the  new  struggle  which,  in 
spite  of  the  darkness,  Jackson  had  determined  upon  ;  and  from 
the  dark  lines  of  the  enemy  near  Chancellorsville,  directly  in 
front,  came  only  a  confused  and  hollow  murmur — sole  evidence 
of  the  fact  that  their  army  was  on  the  qui  vive,  and  their  gunnera 
standing  with  lighted  port-fires  beside  the  pieces,  ready  to  sweep 


CHANCELLORS  VILLE.  419" 

the  approaches  to  the  position  which  they  occupied,  if  the  rustle 
of  a  leaf  or  the  fall  of  a  twig  announced  a  new  advance  of  the 
Southerners. 

Jackson's  design  had  been  only  half  achieved.  He  had 
driven  the  enemy  from  their  first  line  of  intrenchments,  and 
doubled  up  their  right  wing  on  their  centre.  But  this  only 
showed  the  possibility  of  a  more  decisive  success.  Jackson  saw 
at  a  glance  the  immense  results  to  be  achieved  by  vigorously  fol- 
lowing up  the  blow  which  he  had  already  struck,  and  his  design 
now  was  to  swing  round  with  his  left,  interpose  his  corps 
between  the  Federal  army  and  United  States  ford,  and  capture 
or  destroy  them,  or  be  himself  destroyed. 

He  wanted  but  "  one  more  hour  of  daylight"  he  afterwards 
said,  to  effect  this  great  movement,  and  cut  the  enemy  off  from 
the  Rappahannock ;  but  within  the  hour  he  was  himself  to  fall, 
struck  down  by  one  of  those  incomprehensible  decrees  of  Provi- 
dence which  men  see  but  cannot  understand.  "We  approach  with 
pain  the  details  of  this  event,  which  filled  the  whole  South  with 
grief. 

Jackson  had  ridden  forward,  as  we  have  said,  to  reconnoitre, 
accompanied  only  by  Captain  R.  E.  Wilbourn  of  his  staff,  and 
Captain  William  Randolph,  with  about  half  a  dozen  couriers?  and 
two  men  of  the  signal  corps.  The  enemy  were  less  than  two 
hundred  yards  in  front  of  his  lines,  and  no  pickets  had  been  es- 
tablished. Thus  Jackson  soon  found  himself  considerably  in 
advance  of  the  troops,  with  nothing  between  him  and  the  enemy. 
Who  was  to  blame  for  this  neglect  we  have  no  means  of  ascer- 
taining, but  it  resulted  in  the  death  of  Jackson. 

Such  was  his  ardor  at  this  critical  moment,  and  so  great  his 
anxiety  to  penetrate  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  doubly 
screened  as  they  were  by  the  dense  forest  and  the  shadows  of 
night,  that  he  continued  his  way  without  thought  of  the  great 
danger  to  which  he  was  exposing  himself.  So  real  was  thia 
peril  that  one  of  his  staff  officers  said  to  him :  "  General,  don't 
you  think  this  is  the  wrong  place  for  you  ?  "  To  which  he  replied 
quickly,  "  The  danger  is  all  over — the  enemy  is  routed ! — go 


420  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

back  and  tell  A.  P.  Hill  to  press  right  on  !  "  No  one  presumed 
to  offer  further  remonstrance,  and  Jackson  continued  to  advance 
down  the  road  toward  Chancellorsville,  listening  for  every 
sound,  and  endeavoring  to  peer  through  the  half  darkness. 

He  had  advanced  in  this  manner  more  than  a  hundred  yards 
beyond  his  lines,  and  had  reached  a  point  on  the  road  opposite  an 
unfinished  weather-board  house  on  the  right,  whose  shell-torn 
roof  may  still  be  seen,  when  suddenly,  without  any  conceivable 
cause,  a  heavy  volley  was  fired  by  the  Confederate  infantry  in  his 
rear  and  on  the  right  of  the  road,  apparently  directed  at  him  and 
his  escort.  Several  of  the  party  fell  from  their  horses  ;  and 
Jackson  turned  to  the  left  and  galloped  off  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion. He  had  not  gone  twenty  steps  into  the  woods  when  a 
Confederate  brigade,  which  was  there  drawn  up  within  twenty 
yards  of  him,  delivered  a  volley  in  their  turn,  kneeling  on  the 
right  knee,  as  the  flash  of  the  guns  showed,  as  though  preparing 
to  guard  against  cavalry.  By  this  fire  Jackson  was  wounded  in 
three  places.  He  received  one  ball  in  his  left  arm,  two  inches 
below  the  shoulder  joint,  shattering  the  bone  and  severing  the 
chief  artery;  a  second  passed  through  the  same  arm,  between 
the  elbow  and  wrist,  making  its  exit  through  the  palm  of  the 
hand  ;  and  a  third  ball  entered  the  palm  of  his  right  hand,  about 
the  middle,  and  passing  through,  broke  two  of  the  bones. 

At  the  moment  when  he  was  struck  he  was  holding  his  bridle 
in  his  left  hand,  and  his  right  was  raised,  either  in  the  gesture 
habitual  with  him,  or  to  defend  his  face  from  the  boughs  of  the 
trees.  His  left  hand  immediately  dropped  by  his  side,  and  his 
horse,  thus  no  longer  controlled  by  the  rein,  wheeled  suddenly 
and  ran  off  with  him  from  the  firing,  in  the  direction  of  the  en- 
emy. His  helpless  condition  exposed  him  immediately  to  a  dis- 
tressing accident.  His  horse  ran  violently  between  two  pine 
trees,  from  one  of  which  a  low  bough  extended,  about  the  height 
of  his  head,  to  the  other ;  and  as  he  passed  between  the  trees 
this  bough  struck  him  in  the  face,  tore  off  his  cap,  and  threw  him 
so  violently  back  that  his  shoulders  came  in  contact  with  his 
horse.  He  did  not  fall,  however,  and  soon  rose  erect  again, 


CHAKCELLOESVILLE.  421 

seizing  the  bridle  with  the  bleeding  fingers  of  his  right  hand,  and 
turning  the  horse  into  the  road  again.  \Here  Captain  Wilbourn 
succeeded  in  catching  the  reins  and  checking  the  animal,  who 
was  almost  frantic  from  terror,  at  the  moment  when,  from  loss 
of  blood  and  exhaustion,  Jackson  was  about  to  fall  from  the 
saddle. 

The  scene  which  the  road  presented  at  this  moment  was 
gloomy  and  exciting.  Horses  mad  with  fright  were  seen  run- 
ning in  every  direction,  in  the  greatest  confusion — some  of  them 
riderless,  others  defying  the  control  of  their  riders — and  in  the 
road  lay  the  wounded  and  dying,  making  the  night  more  tragic 
with  their  groans.  The  whole  escort  of  Jackson,  except  Captain 
Wilbourn  and  Mr.  Wynn,  of  the  signal  corps,  were  killed, 
wounded,  or  dismounted.  One  of  the  signal  corps,  who  was  rid- 
ing just  behind  Jackson,  had  his  horse  killed,  and  himself  fell 
mortally  wounded.  A  courier  was  wounded,  and  his  horse  ran 
with  him  into  the  enemy's  lines,  which  were  not  more  than  one 
hundred  yards  distant ;  and  Lieutenant  Morrison,  aide-de-camp 
and  brother-in-law  of  Jackson,  threw  himself  from  his  horse  as 
he  ran  off  toward  the  enemy's  lines — the  animal  falling  dead  a 
moment  afterwards.  Captain  Bos  well,  chief  engineer,  who  hac 
been  sent  to  General  Hill,  near  by,  was  killed,  and  his  horse  ran 
with  him  into  the  enemy's  lines  before  he  fell ;  Captain  Forbes, 
aide-de-camp  to  General  Hill,  was  killed ;  Captain  Howard,  of 
the  staff,  was  wounded,  and  his  horse  bore  him  off  into  the  Fed- 
eral camp  ;  Captain  Leigh,  aide-de-camp,  had  his  horse  shot  under 
him ;  and  two  or  three  of  General  Hill's  couriers  were  killed. 
Near  the  spot  where  Jackson  was  wounded,  were  counted  the 
dead  bodies  of  fourteen  horses. 

Such  had  been  the  lamentable  result  of  this  causeless  fire — 
oflicers  and  men  killed,  others  wounded,  others  borne  off  into  the 
enemy's  lines ;  Captain  Boswell,  of  Jackson's  staff,  dragged  a 
corpse  toward  Chancellorsville,  and  Jackson  himself  wounded 
unto  death. 

We  proceed  to  relate  the  remaining  particulars  of  the  tragedy. 
The  firing  had  ceased  as  suddenly  as  it  began,  and  Jackson 


4:22  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

back  in  the  road  near  the  spot  where  he  had  received  the  firs' 
volley.  No  one  but  Captains  Wilbourn  and  Wynn,  of  the  signal 
•corps,  were  present  now.  The  rest  were  dead  or  scattered.  But 
some  one  was  seen  sitting  on  his  horse  by  the  side  of  the  road, 
.and  looking  on,  motionless  and  silent.  This  unknown  individual 
was  clad  in  a  dark  dress,  which  strongly  resembled  the  Federal 
•uniform  ;  but  he  was  directed  to  "  ride  up  there,  and  see  what 
troops  those  were  " — the  men  who  had  fired  the  volleys.  The 
stranger  slowly  rode  in  the  direction  pointed  out,  but  never  re- 
turned. Who  this  silent  personage  was,  is  left  to  conjecture. 

Captain  Wilbourn,  who  was  standing  by  Jackson,  now  said. 
•*'  They  certainly  must  be  our  troops " — to  which  the  General 
.assented  with  a  nod  of  the  head,  but  said  nothing.  He  was 
looking  up  the  road  toward  his  lines  "  with  apparent  astonish- 
ment," and  continued  to  look  in  that  direction  as  if  unable  to 
realize  that  he  could  have  been  fired  upon  and  wounded  by  his 
own  men.  His  wound  was  bleeding  profusely,  the  blood  stream- 
ing down  so  as  to  fill  his  gauntlets,  and  it  was  necessary  to  act 
promptly.  Captain  Wilbourn  asked  him  if  he  was  much  injured, 
.and  urged  him  to  make  an  effort  to  move  his  fingers,  as  the 
ability  to  do  this  would  show  that  his  arm  was  not  broken.  He 
.endeavored  to  do  so,  looking  down  at  his  hand  during  the  at- 
tempt, but  speedily  gave  up  the  effort,  announcing  that  the  arm 
was  broken.  An  attempt  made  by  his  companion  to  straighten  it 
.caused  him  great  anguish,  and  murmuring,  "  You  had  better 
take  me  down,"  he  leaned  forward  and  fell  into  Captain  Wil- 
bourn's  arms.  He  was  so  much  exhausted  by  loss  of  blood, 
that  he  was  unable  to  take  his  feet  out  of  the  stirrups,  and 
this  was  done  by  Mr.  Wynn.  He  was  then  carried  by  the  two 
men  to  the  side  of  the  road,  where,  in  case  the  enemy  advanced, 
he  would  not  be  discovered,  and  his  fall  could  not  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  his  own  troops.  Here  he  was  laid  under  a  small 
tree,  Captain  Wilbourn  holding  his  head  upon  his  breast,  and 
Wynn  was  sent  back  to  summon  Dr.  McGuire,  his  chief  surgeon, 
^,nd  hasten  up  the  first  ambulance  which  could  be  found.  The 
•messenger  was  also  cautioned  not  to  mention  his  wound  to  any 


•         CHAZSTCELLOKSVILLE.  423 

one  but  the  surgeon,  in  order  that  the  troops,  ?oon  to  renew  the 
attack,  might  not  be  discouraged.  Captain  Wilbourn  then  made 
an  examination  of  his  injuries  ;  first  removing  the  General's  field 
glasses  and  haversack — which  latter  contained  some  paper,  en- 
velopes, and  two  religious  tracts — and  putting  them  on  his  own 
person  for  safety,  he  proceeded,  with  a  small  penknife,  to  cut 
away  the  sleeves  of  the  India  rubber  overall,  dress  coat,  and  two 
shirts  from  the  bleeding  arm. 

.  While  engaged  in  this  painful  duty  he  heard  the  sound  of 
horses'  hoofs  approaching,  and  General  Hill,  who  had  succeeded 
in  checking  the  fire  of  the  troops,  to  which  he  had  also  been  ex- 
posed, rode  up.  Captain  Wilbourn  called  to  him,  and  he  ap- 
proached— dismounting  immediately,  with  Captain  B.  W.  Leigh, 
serving  that  day  on  his  staff.  The  rest  of  the  staff  and  escort 
were  halted,  and  remained  in  the  saddle  a  few  paces  from  the 
spot.  Jackson  had  just  murmured,  "  Captain,  I  wish  you  would 
get  me  a  skilful  surgeon,"  when  General  Hill  came  to  his  side, 
and  expressed  his  regret  at  the  occurrence,  asking  if  the  wound 
was  painful.  Jackson  replied,  "  Very  painful,"  and  added  that 
his  "  arm  was  broken."  General  Hill  pulled  off  his  gauntlets, 
which  were  full  of  blood,  and  Lieutenant  Smith,  his  aide-de-camp, 
who  had  just  arrived,  removed  his  sabre  and  belt.  The  arm, 
now  much  swollen,  was  tied  up  with  a  handkerchief;  and  as  it 
had  ceased  bleeding,  and  Jackson  did  not  complain,  or  exhibit 
any  marks  of  suffering,  those  around  him  indulged  the  hope  that 
the  artery  was  not  cut.  He  was  painfully  weak,  however,  and 
it  was  necessary  that  some  stimulant  should  be  administered. 
A  flask,  containing  a  small  quantity  of  whiskey  or  brandy,  was 
furnished  by  one  of  the  party,  and  this  was  held  to  his  lips.  He 
swallowed  the  spirits  with  manifest  repugnance,  and  then  called 
for  water,  which  was  handed  him  in  a  canteen,  and  of  which  he 
drank  freely.  This  seemed  to  give  him  strength,  but  his  con- 
dition was  still  critical,  and  it  seemed  impossible  to  move  him 
without  making  his  wound  bleed  afresh. 

To  remove  him  from  that  spot  was,  however,  absolutely  neces- 
sary.    The  enemy  were  not  more  than  a  hundred  yards  distant ; 


LITE   OF    STONEWALL    JACKSON. 

the  battle  might  recommence  at  any  moment ;  and  the  situation 
of  the  wounded  leader,  thus  exposed  to  both  the  Federal  fire  and 
that  of  his  own  men,  and  in  danger  of  being  trampled  upon  by 
the  charging  battalions,  was  critical  in  the  extreme.  Either 
death  or  capture  imminently  threatened  him ;  and  it  was  not 
long  before  a  new  act  in  the  tragic  drama  commenced. 

Suddenly  the  voice  of  Captain  Adams,  of  General  Hill's 
staff,  was  heard  from  the  road,  about  ten  or  fifteen  yards  in  front 
of  the  group,  calling  out :  "  Halt !  surrender — fire  on  them  if 
they  don't  surrender  !  " 

General  Hill  immediately  drew  his  pistol,  and  mounting  his 
horse,  moved  back  to  take  command  of  his  line,  first  assuring 
Jackson  that  he  would  keep  his  accident,  as  far  as  possible,  from 
the  knowledge  of  the  troops — for  which  the  General  thanked 
him.  The  persons  halted -proved  to  be  two  Federal  skirmishers 
who  at  once  surrendered,  with  an  air  of  considerable  astonish 
ment,  declaring  that  they  were  not  aware  they  were  in  the  Con- 
federate lines.  This  incident  will  show  how  near  the  enemy 
were  at  the  moment ;  and  a  few  minutes  afterwards  Lieutenant 
Morrison,  who  had  now  come  up,  reported  that  the  Federal  lines 
were  advancing  rapidly,  and  were  at  that  moment  within  less 
than  a  hundred  yards  of-  the  spot.  He  exclaimed,  "  Let  us 
take  the  General  up  in  our  arms,  and  carry  him  off!  "  but  Jack- 
son, now  very  faint  and  pale,  replied,  "  No  ;  if  you  can  help  me 
up,  I  can  walk." 

He  was  accordingly  lifted  and  placed  upon  his  feet,  when  the 
enemy's  batteries  in  front  opened  with  great  violence,  and  Cap- 
tain Leigh,  who  had  just  arrived  with  a  litter,  had  his  horse 
killed  under  him  by  a  shell.  He  leaped  to  the  ground,  near 
Jackson,  and  the  latter  leaning  his  right  arm  upon  this  officer's 
shoulder,  slowly  dragged  himself  along  toward  the  Confederate 
lines,  the  blood  from  his  wounded  arm  flowing  profusely  over 
Captain  Leigh's  uniform.  The  Southern  troops  were  now  in 
motion  to  repulse  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  and  as  they  passed 
the  wounded  general,  whose  escort  of  officers  indicated  his  rank, 
they  asked  :  "  Who  is  that?  who  have  you  there?" 


CHANCELLOESVILLE.  425 

To  this  the  reply  was,  "  Oh,  it  is  only  a  friend  of  ours  who 
is  wounded." 

These  inquiries  became  at  last  so  frequent  as  the  column 
continued  to  pass,  that  Jackson  said  :  "  When  asked,  just  say  it 
is  a  Confederate  officer." 

The  curiosity  of  the  troops,  however,  was  evaded  with  the 
utmost  difficulty,  and  the  men  would  go  around  the  horses  which 
were  led  along  on  each  side  of  the  General,  to  conceal  him,  to 
see  if  they  could  recognize  him.  Something"  in  the  atmosphere 
seemed  to  inform  the  veterans  of  the  old  corps  that  their  great 
commander  was  no  longer  in  the  saddle  to  lead  them  to  victory  ; 
and  every  circumstance  appeared  to  furnish  ground  for  their 
gloomy  suspicions.  At  last  the  unfortunate  discovery  was  made. 
One  of  the  men  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  General,  walking  bare- 
headed in  the  moonlight,  and  suddenly  exclaimed,  "  in  the  most 
pitiful  tone,"  says  an  eye-witness  :  "  Great  God !  that  is  General 
Jackson  ! " 

An  evasive  reply  was  made  to  these  words,  indicating  that 
the  man  was  mistaken  ;  and  he  gazed  at  the  officer  with  a  look 
of  blank  astonishment  and  doubt,  but  passed  on  without  further 
words. 

All  this  occurred  before  Jackson  had  been  able  to  drag  him- 
self more  than  tAventy  steps.  At  the  point,  however,  which  the 
party  had  now  reached,  they  found  the  litter  hurried  forward  by 
Captain  Leigh  ;  and  as  the  General's  strength  was  completely 
exhausted,  he  was  placed  upon  it,  and  borne  off  by  Captain 
Leigh,  Lieutenant  Smith,  and  two  men  of  the  ambulance  corps. 
The  rest  of  the  party  walked  on  each  side,  leading  the  horses. 

The  litter  had  scarcely  begun  to  move,  when  the  fire  of  the 
enemy's  artillery  became  frightful.  The  ridge  in  front  of  Chan- 
cellorsville  resembled  the  crater  of  a  volcano  vomiting  forth  fire 
und  iron.  A  hurricane  of  shell  and  canister  swept  the  road  as 
with  the  besom  of  destruction  ;  and  the  broken  ranks,  riderless 
horses,  and  wild  confusion  made  up  a  scene  of  tumult  which  was 
enough  to  try  the  stoutest  nerves.  The  enemy  had  probably 
understood  that  some  cause  of  confusion  had  arisen  m  the  Con- 


4:26  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

federate  ranks,  or  suspected  that  another  attack  was  about  tc 
commence,  and  they  directed  upon  the  road  over  which  the 
Southern  forces  were  compelled  to  advance,  the  concentrated  fire 
of  their  heaviest  artillery.  A  storm  of  grape  tore  through  the 
trees  and  along  the  road,  mowing  down  the  boughs,  and  striking 
fire  from  the  stones  of  the  turnpike ;  and  for  a  moment  the 
Southern  line  was  checked  and  thrown  into  the  utmost  disorder. 
By  this  fire  General  Hill,  General  Fender,  Colonel  Crutchfield, 
Jackson's  chief  of  artillery,  and  Major  Rogers,  of  artillery,  also 
of  Jackson's  staff,  were  wounded,  and  one  of  the  men  of  the  am- 
bulance corps  carrying  the  litter  of  the  wounded  General,  was 
shot  through  both  arms,  and  dropped  his  burden.  His  companion 
did  likewise,  hastily  flying  from  the  dangerous  locality,  and  but 
for  Captain  Leigh,  who  caught  the  handle  of  the  litter,  it  would 
have  fallen  to  the  ground.  Lieutenant  Smith  had  been  leading 
his  own  and  the  General's  horse,  but  the  animals  now  broke 
away  from  him,  in  uncontrollable  terror,  and  the  tremendous 
fire  scattered  the  rest  of  the  party  in  every  direction  for 
shelter. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  litter  was  lowered  into  the 
road,  and  the  officers  lay  down  by  it  to  protect  themselves  in 
some  degree  from  the  merciless  hurricane  of  grape  and  canister 
which  whistled  through  the  air,  and  "  struck  myriads  of  sparks 
from  the  flinty  stone  of  the  roadside."  Jackson  raised  himself 
upon  his  elbow  and  attempted  to  get  up,  but  Lieutenant  Smith 
threw  his  arm  across  the  General's  breast  and  compelled  him  to 
desist.  They  lay  in  this  manner  for  some  minutes  without  mov- 
ing, and  in  the  midst  of  the  most  terrific  confusion.  "  So  far  as 
I  could  see  into  our  lines,"  says  one  of  the  party,  "  men  and 
horses  were  struggling  with  a  most  terrible  death."  A  few 
minutes  before,  the  road  had  been  crowded,  declares  another, 
and  now  no  man  or  beast  was  visible  except  those  writhing  in 
the  agonies  of  death.  The  wounded  soldier  and  his  companions 
were  the  sole  living  human  beings  upon  the  gloomy  scene. 

In  a  little  while  the  fire  of  canister  veered  around  to  the 
opposite  side ;  and  although  the  enemy  continued  to  direct  a  hot 


CHANCELLORS  VILLE.  427 

fire  of  shell  down  the  road,  Jackson  rose  to  his  feet,  leaning 
upon  Lieutenants  Smith  and  Morrison,  the  latter  having  rejoined 
the  party,  and  followed  by  Captain  Leigh  bearing  the  litter 
which  he  probably  foresaw  would  soon  again  be  needed,  the 
General  turned  aside  from  the  road  which  was  again  filling  with 
infantry  and  artillery,  and  struck  into  the  woods.  Here  he 
dragged  himself  along  with  painful  difficulty,  passing  lines  of 
infantry  lying  upon  their  faces.  He  was  moving  slowly  through 
the  tangled  undergrowth  by  the  roadside,  when  General  Fender, 
who  had  been  only  slightly  wounded,  recognized  Lieutenant 
Smith,  and  asked  "  who  it  was  that  was  wounded."  Lieutenant 
Smith  replied  evasively,  "  A  Confederate  officer,"  but  as  they 
came  nearer  in  the  moonlight,  General  Fender  recognized  his 
commander. 

"  Ah !  General,"  he  said,  "  I  am  sorry  to  see  you  have 
•been  wounded.  The  lines  here  are  so  much  broken  that  I  fear 
we  will  have  to  fall  back." 

Although  greatly  exhausted  and  almost  fainting  from  his 
wound,  Jackson  exhibited  at  this  moment  the  old  martial  fire 
of  which  nothing  could  deprive  him.  He  raised  his  drooping 
head,  and  with  a  flash  of  the  eye  exclaimed : 

"  You  must  hold  your  ground,  General  Fender !  You  must 
hold  your  ground,  sir !  " 

This  was  the  last  order  given  by  Jackson  on  the  field.  His 
strength  was  now  completely  exhausted,  and  he  asked  to  be  per- 
mitted to  lie  down  upon  the  ground.  But  to  this  his  escort 
would  not  consent.  The  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery  was  still 
exceedingly  hot,  and  as  an  advance  of  their  infantry  was  mo- 
mentarily expected,  it  was  necessary  to  move  on.  The  litter 
brought  on  by  Captain  Leigh  was  now  again  put  in  requisition ; 
the  fainting  General  was  laid  upon  it ;  and  some  men  having 
been  procured  to  carry  the  litter,  the  whole  party  continued  to 
move  through  the  tangled  wood  in  the  direction  of  Melzi  Chan- 
cellor's. So  dense  was  the  undergrowth,  and  the  ground  so  diffi- 
cult, that  their  progress  was  slow  and  painful.  An  accident 
which  happened  to  one  of  the  litter-bearers,  was  the  occasion  of 


LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

more  pain  to  the  wounded  man  than  the  injuries  which  he  had- 
received  from  the  bullets.  One  of  the  men  caught  his  foot  in  a 
grapevine,  stumbled,  and  let  go  the  handle  of  the  litter,  which 
descended  heavily  to  the  ground.  Jackson  fell  upon  his  left 
shoulder,  where  the  bone  had  been  shattered,  and  his  agony 
must  have  been  extreme.  "  For  the  first  time,"  says  one  of  the 
party,  "  he  groaned,  and  most  piteously." 

He  was  raised  from  the  ground,  and  a  beam  of  moonlight 
passing  through  the  dense  foliage  overhead,  revealed  the  coun- 
tenance of  the  soldier,  pale,  exhausted,  with  closed  eyes — his 
breast  covered  with  blood,  and  rising  and  falling  with  his  pain- 
ful breathing.  Those  around  him  now  feared  that  the  great  loss 
of  blood  had  deprived  him  of  his  small  remaining  strength,  and 
that  his  life  was  slowly  ebbing  away.  What  a  death  to  die  ! 
All  around  him  was  the  dense  and  tangled  wood,  only  half  illu- 
minated by  the  struggling  moonbeams — above  him  burst  the 
shell  of  the  enemy,  exploding,  says  an  officer,  "  like  showers 
of  falling  stars  ;  "  and  when  the  firing  lulled  for  a  moment,  they 
heard  the  melancholy  cry  of  the  whippoorwill,  lost  in  the  thicket. 
In  this  strange  wilderness  the  man  of  Port  Republic  and  Ma- 
nassas,  who  had  led  so  many  desperate  charges,  seemed  about  to 
close  his  eyes  and  die  in  the  night,  far  from  home  and  kindred, 
and  watched  over  by  a  few  friends  only  whom  Providence  had 
sent  to  bis  assistance. 

But  such  was  not  to  be  the  termination  of  his  career.  When 
asked  by  one  of  the  party  whether  he  was  much  hurt,  he  opened 
his  eyes,  and  said  quietly,  without  further  exhibition  of  pain : 

"  No,  my  friend,  don't  trouble  yourself  about  me." 

The  litter  was  then  again  raised  upon  the  shoulders  of  tho 
men,  and  the  party  continued  their  way.  The  ground  now  be- 
came still  more  difficult,  and  finding  further  progress  through 
the  wood  utterly  impracticable,  they  turned  to  the  left,  reached 
the  road,  and  pressing  into  service  new  reliefs  of  bearers,  made 
their  way  to  a  point  on  the  road  where  a  solitary  ambulance  was 
standing.  In  this  ambulance  Colonel  Crutchfield  and  Major 
Rogers  had  been  placed  when  wounded.  Although  badly 


THE   RESULT   OF   JACKSON'S   MOVEMENT.  429 

hurt,  the  latter  insisted  upon  being  taken  out,  to  make  room  for 
the  General,  and  Jackson  was  laid  in  his  place. 

The  General  repeatedly  asked  for  some  spirits  during  his 
progress  to  the  rear,  and  this  wau  now  obtained.  It  sensibly 
relieved  him,  and,  reaching  Melzi  Chancellor's,  he  found  Dr. 
McGuire,  his  chief  surgeon. 

From  Melzi  Chancellor's  he  was  taken  to  the  hospital  at 
Wilderness  Run,  at  the  intersection  of  the  old  turnpike  and 
Germanna  plank  road,  five  miles  west  of  Chancellorsville.* 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

THE    RESULT   OF   JACKSON'S   MOVEMENT. 

THE  decisive  engagement  which  we  have  attempted  to  de- 
scribe should  properly  be  called  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  to 
distinguish  it  from  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  which  occurred 
on  the  next  day.  We  have,  nevertheless,  acquiesced  in  the  pop- 
ular decision,  which  has  given  the  latter  name  to  the  battles 
both  of  Saturday  and  Sunday ;  and  now  proceed  briefly  to  sum 
up  the  exciting  incidents  which  terminated  the  great  struggle, 
before  returning  to  the  proper  theme  of  these  pages. 

When  Jackson  and  Hill  were  both  wounded  and  forced  to 
retire  from  the  field,  a  member  of  General  Hill's  staff  was  de- 
spatched to  summon  General  Stuart,  who  had  gone  with  his 
cavalry  to  hold  the  road  to  Ely's  ford.  As  soon  as  he  arrived, 
the  command  of  the  corps,  which  had  temporarily  devolved  upon 
General  Rodes,  was  formally  turned  over  to  him  by  General 
Hill,  who  was  still  upon  the  field,  and  he  proceeded  to  make 

*  The  foregoing  narrative  is  based  upon  minute  and  most  interesting  MS. 
statements  from  Captain  R.  E.  Wilbourn  and  Lieutenant  J.  P.  Smith,  of  the 
General's  staff,  and  a  letter  of  Captain  B.  W.  Leigh,  serving  on  General  Hill's 
staff,  which  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix  to  this  volume.  These  details  are 
.now  for  the  first  time  published. 


4:30  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

instant  preparations  for  a  renewal  of  the  attack.  Ignorant  in  a 
great  measure  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  summoned  thus  to 
take  command  in  the  darkness,  General  Stuart  requested  Major 
Pendleton  to  go  to  General  Jackson  and  ask  what  his  disposi- 
tions and  plans  were,  as  he  "  knew  that  what  General  Jackson 
had  designed  was  the  very  best  that  could  be  done."  When  this 
message  was  delivered  to  the  wounded  soldier  at  Wilderness 
Run,  he  replied  :  "  Go  back  to  General  Stuart  and  tell  him  to 
act  upon  his  own  judgment,  and  do  what  he  thinks  best ;  I  have 
implicit  confidence  in  him."  * 

In  consequence  of  the  recent  attack  upon  the  Confederate 
right,  and  the  confusion  of  the  troops  which  had  fired  into  each 
other  several  times,  mistaking  each  other  for  the  enemy,  Gen- 
eral Stuart  decided  not  to  hazard  a  night  attack,  and  addressed 
himself  energetically  to  the  task  of  preparing  for  an  assault 
upon  the  Federal  position  at  dawn  next  day.  Riding  rapidly 
along  the  lines,  he  placed  each  in  position,  enjoined  silence,  and 
made  every  disposition  for  a  move  at  daylight.  A  writer  in  one 
of  the  journals  describes  the  picturesqiie  appearance  of  the  Gen- 
eral as  he  thus  moved  rapidly  to  and  fro,  his  drawn  sabre  gleam- 
ing in  the  moonlight,  his  words  of  good  cheer  inspiring  the  men 
of  Jackson  with  new  ardor  for  the  obstinate  struggle  which  was 
still  before  them. 

The  corps  was  drawn  up  in  three  lines — Hill's  division  con- 
stituting the  first,  Colston's  the  second,  and  Rodes'  the  third. 
At  dawn  every  preparation  was  made ;  the  troops  were  eager 
for  the  encounter ;  and  as  the  sun  rose  splendidly,  driving  away 
the  mists  which  enveloped  the  wild  landscape,  General  Stuart 
ordered  his  three  lines  to  advance  upon  the  enemy.  The  men 
bore  steadily  down  upon  the  Federal  position,  which  was  not 
half  a  mile  in  front,  and  soon  the  forest  echoed  with  the  crash 
of  musketry  and  artillery.  With  a  quick  eye  General  Stuart 
had  seen  that  the  ridge  upon  the  right  of  his  line  was  an  admi- 

*  This  statement  is  made  upon  the  authority  of  Colonel  A.  S.  Pendleton, 
Jackson's  adjutant-general,  who  recalled  the  exact  words  used  by  General 
Jackson. 


THE   RESULT   OF   JACKSON's   MOVEMENT.  431 

rable  position  for  artillery,  and,  massing  rapidly  upon  this  emi- 
nence thirty  pieces,  he  opened  a  heavy  enfilading  fire  upon  the 
Federal  batteries.  The  effect  was  important,  the  fire  sweeping 
every  thing  before  it,  and  driving  the  enemy  still  further  from 
the  plank  road  beyond  Chancellorsville  toward  the  river. 

Met  thus  by  this  heavy  and  damaging  fire  from  the  Confed- 
erate right,  the  Federal  lines  swung  round  and  made  a  vigorous 
assault  upon  their  left.  To  repulse  this  attack,  Colston's  divi- 
sion, which  had  been  ordered  to  the  right,  was  rapidly  moved  to 
the  left,  and  the  three  lines  became  merged  into  one  line  of  bat- 
tle, which  was  soon  engaged  in  a  bloody  contest  with  the  heavy 
columns  of  the  enemy,  fighting  now  with  the  energy  of  despair. 
General  Hooker  had  contracted  his  lines,  massed  his  forces  for 
a  last  struggle  ;  and  at  this  critical  moment  the  ammunition  of  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  Southern  troops,  in  consequence  of 
the  hot  action  on  the  night  before,  was  exhausted. 

Every  available  regiment  was  immediately  sent  to  the  point ; 
the  troops  were  ordered  to  hold  the  ground  at  all  hazards,  if  ne- 
cessary with  the  bayonet,  and  the  enemy  were  held  in  check. 
The  right  of  the  line  had  now  swung  round,  and  about  eight 
o'clock  the  works  of  the  enemy  were  stormed  by  the  combined 
forces  of  the  Confederates,  Stuart's  right  having  connected  with 
Anderson's  left,  where  General  Lee  commanded  in  person. 
Three  times  they  were  won  and  lost,  amid  a  deafening  roar  of 
artillery  and  musketry.  Nothing,  however,  availed  to  check  the 
Southern  troops.  The  artillery  was  advanced ;  the  infantry 
made  their  way  over  every  obstacle,  and  at  ten  o'clock  Chan- 
cellorsville was  in  General  Lee's  possession. 

The  scene  presented  at  this  moment  was  one  of  overpower- 
ing horror  and  magnificence.  In  their  fiery  path  the  shells  had 
set  the  woods  on  fire,  and  the  forest  was  roaring  and  crackling 
above  the  countless  wounded,  buried  in  their  depths,  and  thus 
exposed  to  the  most  agonizing  of  all  deaths.  Over  the  bleeding 
bodies  soared  the  inexorable  flames  ;  and  in  many  instances  the 
fallen,  half  torn  to  pieces  by  shell,  or  pierced  with  balls,  found 
their  expiring  moments  hastened  by  the  cruel  tongues  of  fire. 


432  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

An  inexpressible  horror  enveloped  the  scene,  and  in  front  of  all 
rose  the  Chancellorsville  house,  riddled  with  cannon  shot,  and 
presenting  one  huge  mass  of  flame.  It  had  been  set  on  fire  by 
shell,  and  now  resembled  the  crater  of  a  volcano,  from  which 
rose  jets  of  flame  and  lurid  smoke,  mingling  with  the  rest,  and 
overshadowing  the  whole  landscape  with  its  gloomy  mantle. 

Such  is  a  brief  outline  of  this  sanguinary  conflict.  The 
Confederate  troops  never  fought  with  more  resolution,  and  al- 
though they  were  gallantly  met  they  carried  the  day.  A  North- 
ern writer  describing  the  Southern  troops  says  : 

"  From  the  large  brick  house,  which  gives  the  name  to  this 
vicinity,  the  enemy  could  be  seen  sweeping  slowly,  but  confi- 
dently, determinedly,  and  surely,  through  the  clearings  which 
extended  in  front.  Nothing  could  excite  more  admiration  for 
the  best  qualities  of  the  veteran  soldier  than  the  manner  in 
which  the  enemy  swept  out,  as  they  moved  steadily  onward, 
the  forces  which  were  opposed  to  them.  We  say  it  reluctantly, 
and  for  the  first  time,  that  the  enemy  have  shown  the  finest 
qualities,  and  we  acknowledge,  on  this  occasion,  their  superior- 
ity in  the  open  field  to  our  own  men. 

"  They  delivered  their  fire  with  precision,  and  were  appar- 
ently inflexible  and  immovable  under  the  storm  of  bullets  and 
shell  which  they  were  constantly  receiving.  Coming  to  a 
piece  of  timber,  which  was  occupied  by  a  division  of  our  own 
men,  half  the  number  were  detailed  to  clear  the  woods.  It 
seemed  certain  that  here  they  would  be  repulsed,  but  they 
marched  right  through  the  wood,  driving  our  own  soldiers  out, 
who  delivered  their  fire  and  fell  back,  halted  again,  fired  and 
fell  back  as  before,  seeming  to  concede  to  the  enemy,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  course,  the  superiority  which  they  evidently  felt  them- 
selves. Our  own  men  fought  well.  There  was  no  lack  of  cour- 
age, but  an  evident  feeling,  apparently  the  result  of  having  been 
so  often  whipped,  or  of  having  witnessed  the  rout  on  the  night 
previous,  that  they  were  destined  to  be  beaten,  and  the  only 
Dhing  for  them  to  do  was  to  fire  and  retreat.  The  enemy  felt 
confident  that  they  were  to  be  victorious,  and  our  men  had,  from 


THE   KESULT   OF   JACKSON's   MOVEMENT.  433 

some  occasion,  imbibed  the  same  impression.  Our  men  showed 
lack  of  earnestness  and  enthusiasm,  but  no  want  of  courage. 
All  that  they  needed  was  the  inspiration  of  a  series  of  victories 
to  look  back  upon,  and  an  earnestness  and  confidence  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  cause  for  which  they  were  fighting.  Thus  ended 
the  Sabbath  and  another  chapter  in  the  series  of  our  dis- 
asters." 

On  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  May  3d,  General  Lee  was  in 
line  of  battle  along  the  plank  road  with  his  centre  at  Chancel- 
lorsville.  A  final  advance  was  just  on  the  point  of  being  made 
when  intelligence  arrived  that  General  Sedgwick  had  recrossed 
into  Fredericksburg,  stormed  Marye's  hill,  captured  a  portion  of 
the  Confederate  force  there,  and  was  now  advancing  up  the  main 
road  to  form  a  junction  with  General  Hooker  at  Chancellorsville. 
This  movement  of  so  heavy  a  force  against  his  flank  made  it 
necessary  for  General  Lee  to  delay  his  advance  upon  General 
Hooker  ;  and  the  divisions  of  Anderson  and  McLaws  were  sent 
to  meet  Sedgwick.  At  Salem  Church,  about  five  miles  from 
Fredericksburg,  they  encountered  Barksdale  and  Wilcox  falling 
back  before  the  enemy,  who  pressed  them  hotly ;  and  the  reen- 
forcements  just  came  in  time.  General  Sedgwick  was  held  in 
check  until  night ;  and  on  the  next  morning  General  Lee,  who 
had  arrived  during  the  night,  vigorously  attacked  him  and  drove 
him  back  in  confusion  on  Banks'  ford.  He  was  pursued  to  that 
point,  and  barely  had  time  to  cross  on  his  pontoons  when  the 
Confederate  artillery  opened  upon  him. 

On  Tuesday,  the  5th,  McLaws'  division  was  sent  toward 
United  States  ford,  and  General  Lee  returned  with  Anderson  to 
Chancellorsville  to  attack  General  Hooker.  "  By  this  time," 
says  a  Northern  writer,  "  the  aspect  of  affairs  had  become  ex- 
ceedingly dark."  The  prospect  was  indeed  gloomy.  General 
Hooker  had  been  defeated  in  every  struggle  since  his  appearance 
on  the  southern  shores  of  the  Rappahannock ;  had  been  driven 
from  Chancellorsville,  forced  back  upon  the  river — and  on  Tues 
day  afternoon  it  commenced  raining. 

When  General  Lee  advanced  on  Wednesday  morning  hi?  ad- 
28 


434  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

versary  had  disappeared.  He  had  commenced  the  movement  a& 
far  back  as  Sunday  night ;  on  Monday  night  all  his  trains  and 
baggage  were  across,  and  on  Tuesday  night  the  infantry  and  ar- 
tillery were  moved  to  the  Northern  bank,  heavy  layers  of  pine- 
boughs  having  been  laid  upon  the  pontoons  to  deaden  the  sound 
of  the  wheels. 

To  all  who  witnessed  these  events,  the  movement  of  General 
Hooker  meant  enforced  retreat.  He  styled  it  "  withdrawing," 
and  issued  a  "  congratulatory  order  "  to  his  troops,  which  is  here 
recorded. 

General  Order  JVo.  49. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  May  6,  1863. 

The  Major-General  commanding  tenders  to  this  army  his  congratulations 
on  its  achievements  of  the  last  seven  days.  If  it  has  not  accomplished  all 
that  was  expected,  the  reasons  are  well  known  to  the  army.  It  is  sufficient 
to  say  they  were  of  a  character  not  to  be  foreseen  or  prevented  by  human  sa- 
gacity or  resources. 

In  withdrawing  from  the  south  bank  of  the  Rappahannock  before  deliver- 
ing a  general  battle  to  our  advesraries,  the  army  has  given  renewed  evidence 
of  its  confidence  in  itself  and  its  fidelity  to  the  principles  it  represents. 

By  fighting  at  a  disadvantage  we  would  have  been  recreant  to  our  trust,  to> 
ourselves,  to  our  cause,  and  to  our  country.  Profoundly  loyal,  and  conscious- 
of  its  strength,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  will  give  or  decline  battle  whenever 
its  interests  or  honor  may  command  it. 

By  the  celerity  and  secrecy  of  our  movements,  our  advance  and  passage- 
of  the  river  were  undisputed,  and,  on  our  withdrawal,  not  a  rebel  dared  to  fol- 
low us.  The  events  of  the  last  week  may  well  cause  the  heart  of  every  officer 
and  soldier  of  the  army  to  swell  with  pride. 

We  have  added  new  laurels  to  our  former  renown.  We  have  made  long, 
marches,  crossed  rivers,  surprised  the  enemy  in  his  intrenchments ;  and  when- 
ever we  have  fought,  we  have  inflicted  heavier  blows  than  those  we  have  re- 
ceived. 

We  have  taken  from  the  enemy  5,000  prisoners  and  15  colors,  captured  T 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  placed  hors  du  combat  18,000  of  our  foe's  chosen 
troops. 

We  have  destroyed  his  depots  filled  with  vast  amounts  of  stores,  damaged 
his  communications,  captured  prisoners  within  the  fortifications  of  his  capital, 
and  filled  his  country  with  fear  and  consternation. 

We  have  no  other  regret  than  that  caused  by  the  loss  of  our  brave  com 


THE   RESULT   OF   JACKSON^   MOVEMENT.  .  435 

panions ;  and  in  this  we  are  consoled  by  the  conviction  that  they  have  fallen 
in  the  holiest  cause  ever  submitted  to  the  arbitration  of  battle. 

By  command  of  Major-General  HOOKER, 
S.  WILLIAMS,  Assistant  Adjutant-General 

General  Lee's  order  was  as  follows : 


General  Order  No.  5 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  or  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  May  7,  1863. 

With  heartfelt  gratification  the  General  commanding  expresses  to  the  ar- 
my his  sense  of  the  heroic  conduct  displayed  by  officers  and  men  during  the 
arduous  operations  in  which  they  have  just  been  engaged. 

Under  trying  vicissitudes  of  heat  and  storm  you  attacked  the  enemy, 
strongly  intrenched  in  the  depths  of  a  tangled  wilderness,  and  again  on  the 
hills  of  Fredericksburg,  fifteen  miles  distant,  and  by  the  valor  that  has  tri- 
umphed ou  so  many  fields,  forced  him  once  more  to  seek  safety  beyond  the 
Rappahannock.  While  this  glorious  victory  entitles  you  to  the  praise  and 
gratitude  of  the  nation,  we  are  especially  called  upon  to  return  our  grateful 
thanks  to  the  only  Giver  of  victory,  for  the  signal  deliverance  He  has 
wrought. 

It  is  therefore  earnestly  recommended  that  the  troops  unite  on  Sunday 
next,  in  ascribing  unto  the  Lord  of  Hosts  the  glory  due  unto  His  name. 

Let  us  not  forget  in  our  rejoicing  the  brave  soldiers  who  have  fallen  hi 
defence  of  their  country ;  and,  while  we  mourn  their  loss,  let  us  resolve  to 
emulate  their  noble  example. 

The  army  and  the  country  alike  lament  the  absence  for  a  time  of  one  to 
whose  bravery,  energy,  and  skill  they  are  so  much  indebted  for  success. 

The  following  letter  from  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States  is  com- 
municated to  the  army  as  an  expression  of  his  appreciation  of  their  success : 

"  I  have  received  your  despatch,  and  reverently  unite  with  you  in  giving 
praise  to  God  for  the  success  with  which  he  has  crowned  our  arms.  In  the 
name  of  the  people,  I  offer  my  cordial  thanks  to  yourself  and  the  troops  under 
your  command,  for  this  addition  to  the  unprecedented  series  of  great  victories 
which  our  army  has  achieved.  The  universal  rejoicing  produced  by  this  hap- 
py result  will  be  mingled  with  a  general  regret  for  the  good  and  the  brave 
who  are  numbered  among  the  killed  and  the  wounded." 

R.  E.  LEE,  General 

The  trenchant  criticism  of  a  Northern  journal  upon  General 
Hooker's  whole  campaign  will  appropriately  conclude  our  brief  i 
outline.     This,  it  must  be  remembered,  is  a  Federal  critique. 


436  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

not  Confederate ;  and  if  somewhat  bitter,  will  not  be  found 
unfair. 

"  In  view,"  says  this  writer,  "  of  the  pleasing  delusions  which 
the  Administration  is  now  endeavoring  to  propagate,  it  would  be 
well,  perhaps,  to  outline  some  of  the  leading  facts  in  this  short 
campaign,  from  which  the  reader  can  draw  his  own  moral : 

"1.  It  is  not  true  that  General  Lee  was  surprised  or  deceived 
by  General  Hooker's  movement  across  the  Rappahannock.  From 
the  Richmond  papers  of  last  Saturday  it  is  clear  that  the  Con- 
federate military  leaders  understood  it  perfectly,  and  deliberately 
allowed  our  army  to  cross,  confident  of  their  ability  to  defeat,  if 
not  destroy  it.  Forney,  in  the  Philadelphia  '  Press,'  states  that 
General  Hooker  was  induced  to  cross  by  the  assurances  of  his 
spies  and  scouts  that  the  only  army  to  oppose  him  was  one  of 
40,000  under  General  Jackson,  General  Lee  being  sick  and  his 
army  scattered.  The  Baltimore  secessionists  had  the  same  re- 
port, and  believed  it.  General  Hooker,  therefore,  at  the  very 
start,  was  the  deceived  party,  and  walked  straight  into  the  trap 
prepared  for  him. 

"  2.  The  great  cavalry  raid,  which  was  an  entire  success,  did 
General  Hooker  no  good,  because  it  did  not  precede,  instead  of 
accompanying  his  movements.  General  Lee's  reinforcements 
had  all  arrived  before  the  destruction  of  the  railroads  and 
bridges.  To  him  this  is  now  only  a  temporary  inconvenience. 
Had  General  Hooker  retained  his  cavalry  with  his  army,  it 
would  have  been  far  better  for  him.  He  could  have  captured 
several  thousand  more  prisoners  when  Fredericksburg  was 
taken,  and,  more  than  all,  could  have  prevented  General  Jack- 
eon's  surprise  of  his  flank  and  rear.  They  might  have  changed 
the  complexion  of  the  fight. 

"  3.  General  Hooker's  division  of  his  army  was  as  disas- 
trous in  this  instance  as  have  been  all  such  in  former  military 
history.  It  is  known  that  General  Halleck  utterly  disapproved 
of  this  dispersion  of  the  Union  forces,  and  the  result  proved  that 
\n  this  case,  at  least,  he  was  right.  If  General  Lee  had  fur- 
nished General  Hooker  with  a  plan,  it  could  not  have  been  more 


THE   RESULT   OF   JACKSON'S   MOVEMENT.  437 

to  his  liking.  He  first  hurled  all  his  forces  upon  General  Hooker 
and  beat  him ;  this  was  on  Saturday  and  Sunday,  and  then  on 
Monday  he  repossessed  the  heights  of  Frederickshurg,  and  drove 
General  Sedgwick  across  the  river,  with  the  loss  of  one-third  of 
his  force.  Thus  General  Lee,  with  one  great  army,  beat  two 
smaller  armies  in  detail. 

"  4.  The  battles  of  Saturday  and  Sunday  were  indisputable 
rebel  victories,  as  the  enemy's  attack  upon  General  Sedgwick  on 
Monday  proved.  The  latter  was  defeated  almost  before  General 
Hooker's  eyes,  and  the  latter  could  not  even  make  a  diversion  to 
save  him.  Generals  Lee  and  Jackson  drove  our  army  steadily 
from  point  to  point  until  it  was  crowded  back  upon  the  south 
bank  of  the  river.  Our  artillery,  which,  according  to  the  rebel 
accounts,  was  splendidly  served,  no  doubt  saved  what  remained 
of  the  army. 

"5.  The  retreat  across  the  river,  according  to  General  Lee's 
despatch  to  Jeff.  Davis,  commenced  on  Sunday  night,  and  was 
in  consequence  of  his  signal  victory.  The  Administration's 
statement  is  that  it  was  commenced  on  Tuesday  night,  simply 
as  a  matter  of  precaution  on  account  of  the  storm  and  the  rising 
stream.  General  Lee's  account  has  all  the  known  facts  and  the 
probabilities  on  its  side.  The  Union  correspondents  all  agree 
that  the  stores  and  baggage  were  moved  to  the  north  bank  on 
Monday,  leaving  nothing  but  the  artillery  and  infantry  to  cross 
on  Tuesday.  The  fierce  storm  of  that  day  probably  saved  the 
bulk  of  our  army,  which  was  passed  over  at  night. 

"  6.  General  Hooker's  statement  of  his  losses  reads  as  if  it 
was  made  by  General  Wadsworth.  He  says  his  total  loss  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing  will  not  be  more  than  10,000 
men.  If  this  be  true,  there  are  several  circumstances  that  need 
explaining  badly.  General  Sedgwick  alone.,  all  the  accounts 
agree,  lost  one-third  his  force,  or  about  6,000  men ;  but  call  it 
5,000.  The  capture  of  Fredericksburg,  and  the  storming  of  the 
heights  in  its  rear  on  Sunday,  lost  us  800  men  in  killed  and 
wounded.  This  would  leave  but  little  over  4,000  to  have  been 
killed,  wounded,  and  captured  in  the  tremendous  battles  of  SaU 


438  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

urday  and  Sunday,  when,  at  the  very  least,  150,000  men  met  in 
deadly  conflict.  If  General  Hooker  and  General  Lee  commanded 
Chinese  armies,  this  might  have  been  possible  ;  but  as  they  were 
Americans  on  both  sides,  it  is  simply  incredible.  The  rout  of 
the  llth  Corps,  and  the  driving  back  of  our  whole  lines  for  two 
days  in  succession,  must  have  cost  us — we  will  not  say  how 
many  men,  but  certainly  more  than  4,000.  Judged  by  the  other 
battles  of  the  war,  this  fight  ought  to  have  put  25,000  men  hors 
du  combat.  General  Hooker  may  be  right  in  his  estimate,  but 
if  he  is,  the  fighting  on  both  sides  was  disgraceful. 

"  But  the  theme  is  too  painful  to  dwell  upon.  The  whole 
management  of  the  campaign  shows  a  painful  lack  both  of  ca- 
pacity and  true  courage,  of  mental  force  and  a  high  sense  of 
honor.  Our  rulers  are  alike  incapable  and  unveracious." 

Such  was  the  epitaph  of  General  Hooker  ! 


CHAPTER  XXXVm. 

"  IT  IS  ALL  RIGHT." 

ALL  day  long  on  Sunday,  while  the  great  conflict  was  roar- 
ing around  Chancellorsville,  Jackson  lay  at  Wilderness  Run, 
faint,  motionless,  but  thrilling  at  this  sound  so  long  familiar  to 
his  ears. 

Never  before  had  the  illustrious  soldier  been  compelled  to 
retire  from  the  field — for,  at  Manassas,  though  wounded,  he  still 
retained  command  of  his  brigade  ;  and  it  must  have  stirred  his 
soul  to  its  depths  to  find  himself  thus  powerless  as  an  infant 
while  the  great  battle,  big  with  weal  or  woe  for  his  country,  was 
raging  furiously  a  few  miles  distant  from  the  couch  on  which 
he  lay. 

But  there  was  no  choice  left  him.  The  fatal  balls  had  torn 
through  flesh  and  muscle,  through  bone  and  artery.  His  life 
•was  ebbing  slowly  ;  and  he  could  only  submit  his  spirit  humbly 


UIT   IS    ALL   EIGHT."  439 

•to  the  decree  of  that  God  who  had  never  deserted  him,  and  to 
whose  mysterious  will  he  bowed  with  simple,  childlike  resig- 
nation. 

He  had  been  carried,  as  we  have  said,  to  the  field  hospital  at 
Wilderness  Run,  about  five  miles  west  of  the  battle-field ;  and 
here  he  was  placed  in  a  tent  in  rear  of  the  tavern  at  that  point, 
under  a  stunted  tree,  which  is  still  exhibited  to  the  visitor.  He 
had  lost  so  much  blood  in  that  painful  progress  from  the  front, 
borne  on  a  litter  every  moment  jolting  and  aggravating  thus  the 
extent  of  his  injuries,  that  upon  arriving  at  Wilderness  Run  he 
was  almost  pulseless.  The  face  from  which  his  men  had  so 
often  gathered  the  inspiration  of  victory,  was  calm  and  pale  ;  the 
arm  which  had  risen  reverently  aloft  in  so  many  scenes  of  blood 
and  death  was  paralyzed,  and  lay  as  helpless  as  an  infant's  by 
his  side  ;  the  great  form  which  had  towered  in  the  front  of  bat- 
tle was  stretched,  drained  of  strength  and  motion,  on  the  bed  of 
a  hospital. 

A  thorough  examination  was  speedily  made  of  the^  soldier's 
wounds.  They  were  found  to  be  very  serious  ;  and  the  result  of 
a  consultation  between  Drs.  McGuire,  Black,  Coleman,  and 
Walls,  was  that  amputation  of  the  arm  should  be  immediately 
resorted  to. 

This  decision  of  the  surgeons  was  guardedly  communicated 
to  him.  He  was  asked :  "  If  we  find  amputation  necessary, 
shall  it  be  done  at  once  ? "  He  replied  with  alacrity  and  that 
disregard  of  pain  which  was  a  part  of  his  manly  spirit : 

"  Yes,  certainly !  Dr.  McGuire,  do  for  me  whatever  you 
think  right." 

Preparations  were  accordingly  made  for  performing  the  oper- 
ation, and  the  patient  having  been  put  under  the  influence  of 
chloroform,  his  arm  was  taken  off  without  subjecting  him,  appar- 
ently, to  very  great  pain.  He  slept  well  after  the  operation, 
and  when  he  awoke  asked  for  Mrs.  Jackson,  and  requested  that 
she  might  be  sent  for. 

His  thoughts  then  turned  to  the  battle  which  was  at  the  time 
»n  progress,  and  he  seemed  to  have  no  doubt  that  it  would  result 


440  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

in  victory  for  the  Confederates.  He  spoke  of  the  attack  which- 
he  had  made  on  the  preceding  evenins,  and  said  with  a  glow  of 
martial  ardor  and  a  proud  smile  :  "  If  I  had  not  been  wounded, 
or  had  had  one  hour  more  of  daylight,  I  would  have  cut  off  the 
enemy  from  the  road  to  United  States  ford  ;  we  would  have  had 
them  entirely  surrounded,  and  they  would  have  been  obliged  to 
surrender  or  cut  their  way  out — they  had  no  other  alternative. 
My  troops  may  sometimes  fail  in  driving  an  enemy  from  a  posi- 
tion ;  but  the  enemy  always  fails  to  drive  my  men  from  a 
position." 

He  did  not  complain  of  his  wounds,  and  never  referred  to 
them  unless  a  direct  question  was  addressed  to  him  on  the  sub- 
ject by  some  one.  He  spoke,  however,  of  the  fall  from  the 
litter  as  he  was  being  borne  from  the  field ;  and,  although  no 
contusion  or  abrasion  was  perceptible  from  this  accident,  de- 
clared that  it  had  done  him  serious  injury. 

About  this  time  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  receiving  from  the 
commander  whom  he  loved  and  admired  so  warmly,  this  touch- 
ing evidence  of  his  sympathy  : 

"  I  have  just  received  your  note,  informing  me  that  you. 
were  wounded.  I  cannot  express  my  regret  at  the  occurrence. 
Could  I  have  directed  events,  I  should  have  chosen,  for  the  good 
of  the  country,  to  have  been  disabled  in  your  stead.  I  con- 
gratulate you  on  the  victory  which  is  due  to  your  skill  and 
energy." 

This  recognition  from  his  commanding  general  of  the  loss 
which  the  cause  had  sustained  when  he  was  wounded,  proved 
grateful  to  his  feelings  ;  but  upon  reading  it  he  reverently  said : 
"  General  Lee  should  give  the  glory  to  God." 

The  regret  of  General  Lee  at  this  deplorable  event  was  in- 
deed poignant.  The  soul  of  the  great  commander  was  moved 
to  its  depths  ;  and  he  who  had  so  long  learned  to  conceal  emo- 
tion, could  not  control  his  anguish.  "  Jackson  will  not — he  can- 
not die  !  "  General  Lee  exclaimed,  in  a  broken  voice,  and  wav- 
ing every  one  from  him  with  his  hand — "  he  cannot  die  !  " 

But   the   hours   were   hastening   on — Sunday   passed ;    the 


UIT   IS   ALL    RIGHT."  441 

wounded  man  sleeping  well  in  the  afternoon — and  Monday 
came.  His  physicians  now  deemed  it  advisable  to  remove  him 
to  some  point  where  he  could  be  more  quiet ;  and,  accordingly, 
he  was  carried  to  Mr.  Chandler's,  near  Guinea's  Depot,  on  the 
Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  and  Potomac  Railroad,  about  eight 
miles  from  Hamilton's  crossing,  where  every  arrangement  was 
made  to  ensure  his  comfort  and  careful  treatment.  During  the 
ride  from  the  Wilderness  to  Guinea's  he  complained  greatly  of 
the  heat  of  the  day,  and,  in  addition  to  the  wet  applications  ap- 
plied to  his  wound,  begged  that  a  wet  cloth  might  be  laid  upon 
his  stomach.  He  declared  that  this  gave  him  great  relief. 

During  the  ride  to  Guinea's  he  had  maintained  his  serene  and 
cheerful  bearing,  and  talked  much  in  reference  to  the  battle  of 
Saturday.  He  spoke  of  the  gallant  bearing  of  General  Rodes, 
and  said  that  his  commission  as  major-general  ought  to  date 
from  that  day.  In  this  the  wishes  of  the  dying  soldier  were  com- 
plied with. 

He  seemed  also  very  anxious  to  hear  all  the  particulars  01 
the  battle  of  Sunday.  When  told  of  the  charge  of  his  old  Stone- 
wall Brigade,  and  how,  led  by  Stuart  in  person,  and  shouting, 
u  Charge  !  and  remember  Jackson  !  "  they  pressed  on  over  every 
obstacle,  his  breast  heaved,  the  old  martial  light  came  to  his 
face,  and  with  deep  emotion  he  exclaimed : 

"  It  was  just  like  them  !  it  was  just  like  them  !  They  are  a 
noble  body  of  men  !  " 

He  was  very  much  affected  at  the  intelligence  of  General  Pax- 
ton's  death,  but  seemed  to  derive  a  sorrowful  satisfaction  from 
the  glories  which  his  old  command  had  won.  He  asked  after 
every  one  whom  he  knew,  and  said : 

"  The  men  who  live  through  this  war  will  be  proud  to  say 
'  I  was  one  of  the  Stonewall  Brigade '  to  their  children." 

With  that  modesty,  however,  which  never  left  him,  he  has- 
tened to  guard  this  declaration  from  the  appearance  of  egotism, 
and  added  that  the  name  of  "  Stonewall "  did  not  belong  to  him, 
but  to  his  brigade. 

His  mind  continued  to  dwell  continually  upon  religious  sub- 


442  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

jects,  and  his  views  of  Providential  interposition  were  constantly 
present  with  him.  Looking  at  his  mutilated  arm,  he  said : 

"  Many  people  would  regard  this  as  a  great  misfortune.  I 
regard  it  as  one  of  the  great  blessings  of  my  life." 

An  officer  long  associated  with  him  said : 

"  '  All  things  work  together  for  good  to  those  that  lore 
God.'  " 

"•  Yes,  yes  !  "  was  the  earnest  reply,  "  that's  it !  " 

Speculating  with  this  officer  upon  the  question  whether  those 
miraculously  cured  of  the  palsy  by  our  Saviour  ever  had  a  re- 
turn of  the  disease,  he  said  with  great  feeling  : 

"  I  do  not  think  it  could  have  returned,  for  the  power  was  too 
great.  The  poor  paralytic  could  never  again  shake  with  the 
palsy.  Oh,  for  infinite  power  !  " 

On  Monday  night  he  slept  well,  and  seemed  to  have  recov- 
ered in  a  great  measure  from  the  nervous  shock  which  he  had 
received  from  his  injuries.  His  spirits  rose,  and  oh  Tuesday 
morning  he  ate  with  relish,  and  seemed  to  look  forward  to  his 
recovery  as  speedy  and  certain.  He  was  still  somewhat  annoyed 
by  the  cold  which  he  had  caught  on  the  night  of  the  1st  of  May, 
by  returning  the  cape  spread  over  him  by  the  young  member  of 
his  staff;  but  to  this  he  attached  no  importance. 

He  said  to  his  physician  :  u  Can  you  tell  me,  from  the  ap- 
pearance of  my  wounds,  how  long  I  will  be  kept  from  the 
field  ?  "  and  when  told  that  they  were  doing  remarkably  well,  he 
exhibited  very  great  satisfaction.  He  had  no  pain  in  the  side, 
and  thought  himself  well  enough  to  see  and  converse  with  his 
staff;  but  he  was  advised  against  this  by  his  attendants,  and  did 
not  persist. 

On  Wednesday,  his  wounds  continued  to  look  remarkably 
well,  and  he  was  now  regarded  as  so  far  out  of  danger,  that  prep- 
arations were  made  to  carry  him  by  railroad  to  Richmond.  A 
rain,  however,  which  had  set  in,  prevented  this  design,  and  he 
was  not  removed.  On  this  night,  while  Dr.  McGuire,  who  had 
not  closed  his  eyes  for  three  nights,  was  snatching  a  little  rest, 
the  General  complained  of  nausea,  and  ordered  his  body  servant. 


"IT   IS   ALL   EIGHT."  443 

Jim,  t->  place  a  wet  towel  on  his  stomach.  This  was  done,  but 
with  bad  results.  The  surgeon  was  waked  by  Jim  at  daylight, 
and  informed  that  his  master  was  suffering  very  much.  The 
pain  was  in  the  right  side,  and  was  due  partly  to  the  heavy  fall 
from  the  litter  while  being  borne  from  the  battle-field,  and  partly 
to  incipient  pneumonia,  which  now  began  to  develop  itself. 

This  was  on  the  morning  of  Thursday,  and  later  in  the  day 
Mrs.  Jackson  arrived.  The  presence  of  his  wife  seemed  to  afford 
the  General  great  joy,  and  thenceforth  she  nursed  him  to  the 
moment  of  his  death. 

The  remainder  of  the  sorrowful  record  will  not  fill  much 
space,  or  occupy  the  attention  of  the  reader  many  moments. 
The  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  destinies  of  humanity  had  decreed 
that  this  pure  and  majestic  spirit  should  pass  from  earth  to  a  hap- 
pier and  more  peaceful  realm.  The  hours  of  the  great  soldier  were 
numbered ;  he  had  fought  his  last  battle,  finished  his  work,  and 
now  was  about  to  receive  that  crown  laid  up  for  those  who  be- 
lieve in  Him  who  governs  all  things. 

Gi  Thursday  evening  all  pain  had  ceased,  but  a  mortal  pros- 
tration came  on,  from  which  he  never  recovered.  He  still  con- 
versed feebly,  and  again  said : 

"  I  consider  these  wounds  a  blessing ;  they  were  given  me  for 
some  good  and  wise  purpose,  and  I  would  not  part  with  them  if 
I  could." 

From  this  time  he  continued  to  sink,  and  on  Sunday  morning 
it  was  obvious  that  he  could  only  live  a  few  hours  longer.  His 
mind  was  still  clear,  however,  and  he  asked  Major  Pendleton,  his 
Adjutant-General,  "  who  was  preaching  at  headquarters  on  that 
day?"  Mrs.  Jackson  was  with  him  during  his  last  moments, 
and  conversed  with  him  fully  and  freely. 

"  I  know  you  would  gladly  give  your  life  for  me,"  he  said, 
"  but  I  am  perfectly  resigned.  Do  not  be  sad,  I  hope  I  shall  re- 
cover. Pray  for  me,  but  always  remember  in  your  prayers  to 
use  the  petition,  '  Thy  will  be  done.'  " 

In  the  event  of  his  death,  he  advised  her  to  return  to  her 
father's  home,  and  said  : 


444  LITE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

"  You  have  a  kind,  good  father,  but  there  is  no  one  so  kind 
and  good  as  your  Heavenly  Father." 

His  manner  to  every  one  had  become  full  of  gentleness  and 
tenderness.  The  great  spirit  was  fading  slowly  from  the  world, 
like  a  sun  unobscured  by  clouds  or  vapors.  The  prospect  of  death 
produced  no  change  in  him. 

"  It  will  be  infinite  gain,"  he  said,  "  to  be  translated  to 
heaven,  and  be  with  Jesus." 

When  his  wife  announced  to  him  finally  with  tears  that  his 
last  moments  were  approaching,  he  murmured  calmly : 

"  Very  good,  very  good ;  it  is  all  right." 

Apprised  thus  that  his  final  moment  was  approaching,  he 
sent  kind  messages  to  all  his  friends,  the  Generals  and  others  ; 
taking  thus  his  leave  of  earth,  and  sending  his  august  farewells 
to  those  with  whom  he  had  fought  upon  so  many  bloody  battle- 
fields. 

He  expressed  a  wish  that  he  might  be  buried  in  "  Lexington, 
in  the  Valley  of  Virginia  " — and  then  his  mind  began  to  wander. 
That  delirium  which  seizes  upon  the  most  powerful  organizations, 
the  most  vigorous  brains,  at  the  mysterious  moment  when  the 
last  sands  are  falling  from  the  hour-glass,  began  to  affect  him. 

His  thoughts  reverted  to  the  battle-field  of  Saturday,  and  he 
exclaimed  at  intervals : 

"  Order  A.  P.  Hill  to  prepare  for  action." 

"  Pass  the  infantry  to  the  front !  " 

"  Tell  Major  Hawks  to  send  forward  provisions  to  the  men  ! " 

He  evidently  believed  himself  once  more  amid  the  forests  of 
the  Wilderness,  and  about  to  advance  with  his  great  corps  upon 
the  enemy. 

This  martial  agitation  soon,  however,  passed  away.  His  ex- 
citement disappeared,  his  features  again  became  serene,  and  he 
murmured  with  a  smile  : 

"  Let  us  cross  over  the  river  and  rest  under  the  shade  of  th( 
trees ! " 

The  moment  had  indeed  arrived  when  the  illustrious  leader 
was  about  to  pass  the  dark  river  which  separates  two  worlds. 


JACKSON'S  REMAINS  TAKEN  TO  LEXINGTON.         445 

and  rest  under  the  shade  of  the  Tree  of  Life.  From  this  time 
he  continued  gradually  to  sink,  and  at  fifteen  minutes  past  three 
in  the  afternoon,  on  Sunday,  the  10th  of  May,  he  peacefully 
expired. 

Such  was  the  death  of  Jackson.  He  who  had  passed  through 
a  thousand  scenes  of  carnage,  expired  upon  his  bed,  surrounded 
by  weeping  friends,  who  were  taught  by  that  august  spectacle 
how  a  Christian  soldier  can  die. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

JACKSON'S  REMAINS  TAKEN  TO  LEXINGTON. 

THE  incidents  which  accompanied  the  reception  of  the  illus- 
trious soldier's  body  in  Richmond  and  Lexington  will  terminate 
our  narrative. 

Honors  were  offered  to  him  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  and 
the  reader  will  peruse  with  interest  these  two  which  we  have  se- 
lected from  the  number.  General  Lee  wrote : 

"  With  deep  grief  the  Commanding  General  announces  to  the 
army  the  death  of  Lieutenant-General  Jackson,  who  expired  on 
the  9th,  at  3.15  p.  M.  The  daring,  skill,  and  energy  of  this  great 
and  good  soldier,  by  a  decree  of  an  all-wise  Providence,  are  now 
lost  to  us.  But  while  we  mourn  his  death,  we  feel  that  his  spirit 
lives,  and  will  inspire  the  whole  army  with  his  indomitable 
courage  and  unshaken  confidence  in  God  as  our  hope  and 
strength. 

"  Let  his  name  be  a  watchword  for  his  corps,  who  have  fol- 
lowed him  to  victory  on  so  many  fields.  Let  officers  and  soldiers 
imitate  his  invincible  determination  to  do  every  thing  in  the  de- 
fence of  our  beloved  country." 

General  Beauregard,  commanding  at  Charleston,  and  long 
the  warm  friend  of  the  Virginian,  wrote  : 

"  The   illustrious    soldier,   Lieutenant-General   Thomas   J. 


446  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

Jackson,  is  dead.  The  memory  of  his  high  worth,  conspicuous 
virtues,  and  momentous  services  will  be  treasured  in  the  heart,, 
and  excite  the  pride  of  his  country  to  all  time.  His  renown  is- 
already  identified  with  our  revolution  ;  and  even  our  enemy  ad- 
mits his  unselfish  devotion  to  our  cause,  and  admires  his  eminent 
qualities. 

"  The  Commanding  Generals  of  the  First  Military  District 
and  of  the  District  of  Georgia,  on  the  day  following  the  receipt 
of  this  order,  Avill  cause  a  gun  to  be  fired  every  half  hour,  be- 
ginning at  sunrise  and  ending  at  sunset ;  and  the  flags  of  every 
post  in  the  department  will  be  hoisted  at  half-mast  in  token  of 
this  national  bereavement." 

The  intelligence  reached  Richmond  on  the  evening  of  the 
10th,  and  created  profound  depression  among  all  classes  of  citi- 
zens. On  the  morning  of  the  llth  it  was  announced  that  the 
remains  of  the  soldier  would  reach  Richmond  that  afternoon  in  a 
special  train  sent  by  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  the  Mayor 
of  the  city  requested  all  persons  to  suspend  business  after  ten 
o'clock  in  token  of  respect  for  the  dead.  All  stores,  workshops, 
the  departments  of  Government,  and  all  places  in  which  labor 
was  performed  were  closed.  Flags  were  suspended'  at  half-mast, 
a  deep  silence  reigned  in  the  streets,  and  in  spite  of  the  intense 
heat  large  crowds  remained  for  hours  at  the  Fredericksburg 
depot,  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the  train. 

About  four  in  the  evening,  amid  a  painful  silence,  only 
broken  by  the  tolling  of  the  bells,  the  train  reached  Richmond 
with  its  burden.  The  coffin  was  placed  in  a  hearse,  behind 
which  was  stationed  the  General's  staff,  and  preceded  by  Gen- 
eral Elzey  and  his  staff,  the  State  Guard  of  Virginia,  and  two 
regiments  of  infantry,  moved  through  crowds  of  citizens  to  the 
Governor's  house. 

The  body  was  laid  in  the  reception-room  of  the  mansion,  the 
coffin-lid  having  been  raised  so  as  to  show  the  person  of  the 
dead ;  a  wreath  of  laurel  was  laid  upon  the  breast,  and  around 
the  coffin  was  wrapped  the  snow-white  banner  of  the  Confederate- 
States. 


JACKSON'S  REMAINS  TAKEN  TO  LEXINOTON.         447 

That  banner  had  been  just  adopted,  and  had  never  yet  been 
raised.  It  was  thus  first  used  to  wrap  the  dead  body  of  the 
man  who  had  fought  so  well  for  the  land  over  which  it  was  to 
float. 

'•  The  face  of  the  dead,"  says  a  writer  in  one  of  the  journals. 
"  displayed  the  same  indomitable  lines  of  firmness,  with  the  long, 
slightly  aquiline  nose,  and  high  forehead,  of  marble  whiteness ; 
but  the  cheeks  presented  a  deep'  pallor.  The  eyelids  were  firmly 
closed,  the  mouth  natural,  and  the  whole  contour  of  the  face 
composed,  the  full  beard  and  mustache  remaining.  The  body 
was  dressed  in  a  full  citizen's  suit,  it  being  the  object  of  his 
friends,  and  we  doubt  not  the  nation's  wish,  to  preserve  the 
uniform  in  which  he  fought  and  fell." 

During  the  evening  a  few  friends  and  the  officers  of  govern- 
ment were  admitted,  also  some  members  of  Jackson's  old 
brigade.  It  is  said  that  President  Davis  stood  long  by  the  body, 
gazed  at  the  pallid  face  with  deep  emotion,  and  then  turned 
away  and  left  the  house  in  silence.  A  more  affecting  incident 
was  the  appearance  of  an  old  soldier  of  the  Stonewall  Brigade. 
The  veteran  stood  for  some  moments  looking  at  the  pale  face  of 
his  General  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  then  bending  down  pressed  a 
kiss  upon  the  lips,  and  slowly  retired. 

During  the  night  the  body  was  embalmed,  a  plaster  cast  of 
the  features  taken,  and  the  corpse  was  placed  in  a  metallic 
coffin.  On  the  next  day  a  great  and  solemn  pageant  marked  the 
universal  sense  of  loss. 

A  great  procession  was  formed,  and  at  the  hour  appointed 
the  coffin  was  borne  to  the  hearse ;  a  signal  gun  was  fired  from 
the  equestrian  statue  of  Washington  on  the  square  ;  and  to  the 
solemn  strains  of  the  "  Dead  March  in  Saul,"  the  procession 
began  to  move.  The  hearse  was  drawn  by  four  white  horses, 
and  preceded  by  two  regiments  of  Pickett's  division  and  the  State 
Guard  of  Virginia,  with  arms  reversed,  General  Pickett  and 
his  staff,  the  Fayette  artillery,  and  a  squadron  of  cavalry.  Be- 
hind came  Generals  Ewell,  Winder,  Churchill,  Corse,  Steuart, 
Kemper,  Garnett,  and  Admiral  Forrest — pall-bearers.  These 


448  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

were  followed  by  the  horse  of  the  dead  soldier  caparisoned  foj 
battle,  and  led  by  his  body-servant ;  his  staff ;  members  of  the 
Old  Stonewall  Brigade  with  sorrowful  and  downcast  looks ; 
General  Elzey  and  his  staff;  and  then  a  vast  array  of  govern- 
ment officials,  the  President,  members  of  the  Cabinet,  the 
Governor  of  Virginia,  the  city  authorities,  with  the  judges, 
citizens,  and  good  people  generally — a  silent  and  sorrowful  mul- 
titude. 

The  procession  moved  down  Governor's  Street  and  up  to  the 
head  of  Main  Street,  whence  it  returned  to  the  western  gate  of 
the  Capitol  Square,  where  a  great  concourse  had  assembled  to 
see  it  enter.  Sobs  had  accompanied  it  upon  its  way,  the  tears 
not  only  of  women  but  of  bearded  men ;  such  public  grief  had 
not  been  displayed  since  the  death  of  Washington. 

Thus  amid  tolling  bells,  the  discharge  of  artillery  at  intervals, 
and  the  mournful  strains  of  martial  music,  the  long  procession 
reached  the  Capitol  Square.  Here  it  halted,  and  the  hearse 
moved  to  the  western  entrance  of  the  capitol,  accompanied  only 
by  the  pall-bearers,  general  officers,  and  the  public  guard.  In 
the  midst  of  a  great  crowd  of  weeping  women  and  children, 
with  the  thunder  of  artillery,  and  the  mournful  music  of  the 
bands  filling  the  air,  the  coffin  was  then  lifted  from  the  hearse 
and  borne  into  the  capitol.  The  Hall  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives had  been  draped  in  mourning,  Confederate  standards 
folded  along  the  face  of  the  galleries,  and  here  in  front  of  the 
speaker's  chair,  on  a  species  of  altar  covered  with  white  linen 
looped  up  with  crape,  the  coffin  was  deposited. 

The  face  and  bust  were  then  uncovered,  and  the  crowd  was 
admitted  to  gaze  upon  the  features.  Throughout  the  afternoon 
multitudes  continued  to  come  and  go,  old  men  and  youths, 
women  and  children — all  taking  a  sorrowful  look  at  the  placid 
features  of  the  illustrious  dead.  When  night  came,  20,000  per- 
sons had  thus  passed  in  front  of  the  body. 

From  the  capitol  the  remains  of  Jackson  were  borne,  under 
military  escort,  to  Lexington,  where  they  were  received  by 
General  Smith,  the  corps  of  cadets,  the  professors,  and  a  large 


JACKSON'S  REMAINS  TAKEN  TO  LEXINGTON.         449 

body  of  citizens.  They  were  escorted  in  solemn  procession  to 
the  barracks  of  the  Institute,  and  deposited  in  the  old  lecture- 
room  of  the  deceased.  The  room  was  just  as  he  had  left  it  two 
years  before,  as  no  one  had  occupied  it  during  his  absence  ;  but 
it  had  been  draped  in  mourning.  The  coffin  was  placed  in  front 
of  the  dead  man's  favorite  chair,  and  amid  the  roar  of  the  old 
cadet  battery,  heard  at  intervals  of  half  an  hour  throughout  the 
day,  the  body  of  the  soldier  lay  in  state  in  the  familiar  hall. 

It  was  thus  that  he  had  returned  to  the  beloved  spot  where 
he  had  passed  so  many  happy  hours  in  other  years,  and  to  which 
his  thoughts  went  back  in  those  last  moments  when  he  mur- 
mured : 

"  Bury  me  in  Lexington,  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia  !  " 

"  Lexington  !  "  That  town  had  witnessed  the  peaceful  labors 
of  the  professor ;  the  calm  researches  of  the  quiet  student ;  the 
serene  enjoyments  of  the  good  husband  and  friend.  Thence  he 
had  departed  to  enter  upon  the  career  which  was  to  make  his 
name  renowned  forever  in  the  annals  of  a  tragic  epoch — to 
crown  him  with  glory  and  honor  as  the  right  arm  and  chief 
hope  of  a  great  people.  He  murmured  "  Lexington  !  Lexing- 
ton ! "  as  the  German  exile  murmurs  "  the  Rhine !  the 
Rhine !  " 

"  The  Valley  of  Virginia  !  "  Those  words  too  had,  doubt- 
less, a  magical  influence  upon  the  stern  soul  of  the  celebrated 
leader.  They  conjured  up  visions  of  his  chief  glories  won  upon 
that  old  familiar,  long  loved  soil.  They  meant  Kernstown ! 
McDowell !  'Winchester !  Cross  Keys  !  Port  Republic !  There 
was  scarce  a  foot  of  the  great  highways  of  that  region  but  had 
been  trodden  by  him  and  his  soldiers  ;  scarce  a  mile  over  which 
he  had  not  fought.  There  his  steps  had  been  clogged  with 
battles,  and  almost  every  encounter  was  a  victory.  For  that 
sacred  earth  he  had  fought  so  long  and  persistently ;  thence  he 
had  so  frequently  driven  the  invaders ;  every  foot  was  dear  to 
him  from  the  mouth  of  the  beautiful  Shenandoah  to  its  source  ; 
and  for  its  freedom  he  had  cheerfully  risked  all  that  man  pos- 
sesses. He  had  delivered  that  lovely  land  from  all  its  foes ; 
29 


450  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

and,  lying  powerless  there  near  Fredericksburg,  his  heart  turned 
fondly  to  the  scene  of  his  happiness  and  his  fame.  In  that  earth 
which  he  had  redeemed — the  soil  of  the  Valley  of  Virginia — he 
desired  his  ashes  to  repose. 

There  they  were  accordingly  deposited.  Escorted  by  infan- 
try, cavalry,  and  artillery,  and  borne  to  the  grave  upon  a  caisson 
of  the  old  cadet  battery,  as  became  the  great  artillerist,  they 
were  consigned  to  the  beloved  earth  where  reposed  the  bodies 
of  his  first  wife  and  child. 

It  is  said  that  some  loving  hand  planted  on  his  grave  a  piece 
of  laurel  brought  from  the  grave  of  Napoleon  at  St.  Helena — 
thus  connecting,  as  it  were,  by  an  invisible  link,  the  man  of 
Austerlitz  with  the  victor  of  Port  Republic  and  Chancellors- 
ville. 

Both  returned  in  the  moments  of  delirium  to  the  battle-field  ; 
but  whilst  Napoleon  died  with  that  fierce  cry,  "  Tete  d'Armee  !  " 
upon  his  lips,  Jackson  fell  asleep  in  a  childlike  dream  of  rivers 
and  green  trees.  Napoleon  trusted  in  his  "  Star  " — Jackson  in 
God.  The  former  was  a  simple  fatalist ;  the  motto  of  the  Vir- 
ginian was,  "  Do  your  duty  and  trust  to  Providence." 

"  It  is  all  right,"  was  the  other  motto  of  Jackson — and  he 
clung  to  it  even  in  death.  Let  us,  too,  trust  that  all  is  well,  and 
look  beyond  the  storm  with  serene  trust  in  Him  who  rules  the 
destinies  of  men  and  nations. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

JACKSON   THE    SOLDIER   AND   THE    MAN. 

WE  have  presented  in  the  foregoing  pages  as  truthful  a  record 
of  the  events  of  Jackson's  career,  as  the  material  at  our  com- 
mand permitted.  It  is  impossible  that  the  main  occurrences 
have  not  been  understood,  or  that  the  reader  has  not  formed  a 
tolerably  clear  idea  of  the  military  and  personal  traits  of  the  in- 


JACKSON    THE    SOLDIER    AND   THE   MAN.  45T 

dividual.  From  the  narrative,  better  than  from  any  comment,- 
those  characteristics  will  be  deduced ;  but  a  rapid  summary 
of  Jackson's  traits  as  a  soldier  and  a  man  may  interest  some 
readers,  and  to  this  we  now  proceed.  Eulogy  is  easy  in  pres- 
ence of  this  great  career  ;  but  let  us  dismiss  all  such  unprofitable- 
work,  and  rationally  inquire  what  endowments  went  to  accom- 
plish the  successes  of  the  soldier. 

Jackson  was  a  born  leader,  and  had,  underlying  all,  that  su' 
preme  spirit  of  combativeness  which  is  the  foundation  of  rnili-- 
tary  success.  It  is  a  fancy  that  he  did  not  love  fighting.  War 
was  horrible  in  his  eyes,  it  is  true,  from  the  enormous  public  and 
private  misery  which  it  occasioned  ;  but  he  none  the  less  loved 
the  conflict  of  opposing  forces.  In  battle,  under  his  calm  exte~ 
rior,  he  had  the  gaudium  certaminis.  You  could  see  that  he  was 
a  fighting  animal,  from  his  ponderous  jaw.  We  say  "  animal,"" 
because,  at  such  moments,  Jackson  the  compassionate  Christian,- 
became  Jackson  the  veritable  bull-dog.  His  combativeness,. 
when  thus  aroused,  was  obstinate,  enormous.  To  fight  to  the' 
death  was  his  unfaltering  resolve,  and  his  own  invincible  resolu- 
tion was  infused  into  his  troops ;  they  became  inspired  by  his 
ardor,  and  were  more  than  a  match  for  two  or  three  times  their 
number  fighting  without  this  stimulus.  With  Jackson  leading 
them  in  person,  on  fire  with  the  heat  of  battle,  the  Stonewall 
Brigade  and  other  troops  which  had  served  under  him  long,  felt 
themselves  able  to  achieve  impossibilities.  But  combativeness 
and  military  ardor  do  not  make  a  great  commander ;  without 
them  no  officer  can  accomplish  much,  but  more  is  needed  to- 
achieve  the  glories  of  arms.  Enterprise  is  necessary ;  and  this 
word,  for  want  of  a  better,  must  express  a  quality  of  Jackson's 
mind  which  more  than  all  else  gave  him  his  astonishing  success.- 
His  rule  was,  never  to  allow  an  enemy  to  rest ;  to  attack  wher- 
ever it  was  possible,  and  to  press  on  until  all  opposition  was- 
broken  down  and  the  day  gained.  The  remarkable  activity- 
shown  in  his  campaigns  is  an  evidence  that  he  possessed  this; 
trait  as  a  General  in  a  more  eminent  degree,  perhaps,  than  any  of 
his  contemporaries.  A  sluggish  or  unwary  adversary  was  doomed 


152  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

already.  When  he  least  expected  it,  Jackson  was  before  him 
attacking  with  all  the  advantages  of  a  surprise.  It  was  said  that 
he  marched  his  men  nearly  to  death,  and  it  was  true.  But 
these  excessive  drains  upon  their  physical  strength  were  compen- 
sated by  victories,  by  spoils,  and  by  an  immense  accession  to  the 
moral  strength  of  his  command.  Nor  did  he  fail  to  preserve, 
thus,  thousands  of  lives,  which  would  have  been  lost  by  more 
deliberate  and  conventional  warfare.  He  always  preferred  to 
arrive,  by  forced  marches,  in  face  of  an  unprepared  enemy,  and 
drive  them  before  him,  with  comparatively  small  loss,  to  a  more 
leisurely  advance  which  would  find  them  ready  to.  meet  him. 
He  aimed  to  succeed  rather  by  sweat  than  blood.  His  famous 
flank  movements  proved  a  terrible  tax  on  the  strength  of  his 
troops  ;  but  after  their  exhausting  marches,  the  men  finished  the 
work  without  bloodshed,  almost,  and  soon  forgot  their  weariness 
in  the  sweet  sleep  which  follows  toil  and  victory.  Aggressive 
warfare  was  the  fundamental  principle  of  his  military  system. 
He  preserved  the  unvarying  conviction,  throughout  his  whole 
career,  that  the  true  policy  of  the  South  was  one  of  invasion. 
So  far  did  he  carry  this,  that  after  Port  Republic,  as  we  have 
seen,  he  was  passionately  bent  on  advancing  into  Pennsylvania, 
though  General  McClellan  was  knocking  at  the  doors  of  Rich- 
mond with  an  army  of  150,000  men.  After  the  battles  of  the 
'Chickahominy,  he  rose  from  his  camp-couch  one  night,  where  he 
was  lying,  talking  with  a  friend,  and  violently  striking  the  pillow 
with  his  clenched  hand,  exclaimed :  "  Why  don't  we  go  to  Penn- 
sylvania now  ?  The  Scipio  Africanus  policy  is  the  best !  "  To 
march,  to  manoeuvre,  to  flank,  to  strike — to  advance,  retreat, 
keep  his  enemy  in  constant  fear — such  was  his  system.  He 
never  rested,  and  took  no  account  of  hours  or  seasons.  He 
seems  to  have  considered  all  weather  good  to  fight  in,  and  to 
have  discarded  the  general  conviction  of  military  men  that  night 
attacks  are  hazardous.  The  Bath  expedition  was  undertaken  in 
the  dead  of  winter ;  and  at  Fredericksburg  he  projected  and  at- 
tempted to  execute  that  final  assault  upon  the  Federal  army 
which  was  to  begin  "  precisely  at  sunset."  At  Chancellorsville, 


I 


JACKSON   THE   SOLDIER   AND   THE   MAN.  453 

at  nine  o'clock  at  night,  when  he  fell,  he  was  preparing  for  that 
movement  of  his  left  wing  which  was  to  envelope  General  Hook- 
er and  decide  the  fate  of  the  Federal  army.  No  other  general 
living  would  have  ventured  upon  so  dangerous  an  undertaking ; 
but  Jackson  had  decided  upon  it  without  hesitation. 

It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  unwary  or  indolent  opponents 
became  the  victims  of  a  strategy  so  bold  and  aggressive.  Gen- 
eral Banks  is  an  example.  A  more  unfortunate  appointment 
could  not  have  been  made  by  the  Federal  Government.  General 
Banks  seems  to  have  been  without  enterprise,  and  greatly  want- 
ing in  that  watchful  care  which  his  position,  in  front  of  so  dan- 
gerous a  foe,  required.  Jackson  surprised  him  at  Strasburg, 
and  drove  him  from  the  Valley,  almost  without  resistance.  The 
manoeuvring  around  Port  Republic  was  another  example  of  his 
superiority  to  General  Fremont,  whose  plan  of  advancing  with 
one  column  upon  Jackson's  rear,  while  another  was  sent  to  inter- 
cept him,  was  turned  against  him,  and  became  the  occasion  of 
his  ruin.  The  rapidity  of  Jackson's  marches  in  the  Valley  cam- 
paign and  the  expedition  to  the  rear  of  General  Pope,  was  mar- 
vellous ;  but  there  was  something  still  more  striking  in  the  en- 
terprise which  suggested  these  movements.  To  a  soldier  so  fer- 
tile in  resources,  so  rapid,  daring,  and  unhesitating,  victory  was 
almost  a  foregone  conclusion. 

The  difference  between  enterprise  and  foolhardiness  is  that 
between  calculation  and  chance.  Jackson's  military  movements 
were  always  based  upon  close  calculation,  and  he  was  certainly 
not  wanting  in  foresight  and  caution.  He  seems  to  have  known 
perfectly  well  what  it  was  in  his  power  to  achieve,  and  as 
thoroughly  what  was  beyond  his  strength.  He  risked  much,  on 
many  occasions,  but  appears  to  have  been  justified  in  his  calcu- 
lations of  the  ultimate  result.  It  will  be  objected  to  him  by 
military  men,  that  he  hazarded  too  much  at  times,  and  was  only 
extricated  by  good  fortune.  There  appears  to  be  some  justice 
in  this ;  but  the  resources  of  his  genius  were  enormous,  and 
doubled  his  numbers.  Some  of  his  ideas  seem  absurd  when 
coolly  looked  at.  We  have  seen  that  when  he  was  asked  what 


454  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

iie  would  have  done  if,  after  the  battle  of  Winchester,  the  con- 
verging columns  of  the  enemy  had  cut  him  off  at  Strasburg,  he 
replied,  "  I  would  have  fallen  back  upon  Maryland  for  reen- 
iforcements."  Such  a  movement  must,  it  would  appear,  have 
terminated  in  his  destruction  ;  but  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a 
man  of  hia  old  command  who  would  have  doubted  his  ultimate 
triumph  even  then. 

His  genius  was  for  great  movements  and  decisive  blows ; 
,and  thus  his  services  became  more  and  more  valuable  as  his 
rank  increased.  He  was  better  as  brigadier  than  as  colonel ; 
•better  still  as  major-general ;  and  as  lieutenant-general  was  best 
.of  all.  It  is  useless  to  ask  what  he  would  have  been  as  com- 
mander-in-chief,  without  a  superior  at  Richmond.  But  the  brain 
which  conceived  and  executed  the  campaign  of  the  Valley,  must 
have  been  equal  to  any  position. 

Jackson's  other  merits  as  a  General  were  great.  He  was  a 
bad  organizer  and  disciplinarian,  but  admirable  in  his  selection 
of  men  for  important  command.  He  conducted  his  campaigns 
upon  the  soundest  rules  of  military  science ;  and  where  he  di- 
verged from  the  beaten  track  of  precedent,  did  so  from  consider- 
ations connected  with  the  nature  of  the  country  in  which  he 
operated,  the  peculiarities  of  his  adversary,  or  the  character  of 
the  troops  upon  which  he  depended. 

He  kept  open  generally  his  line  of  retreat,  and  provided 
for  disaster — though  it  was  hard  to  realize  that  failure  ever 
entered  into  his  calculations.  He  had  the  soldier's  eye  for  posi- 
tion, and  chose  his  ground  both  for  infantry  and  artillery  with 
the  exactness  of  genius ;  but  if  all  his  arrangements  were  made, 
and  his  plans  required  battle,  would  fight  on  any  ground.  He 
depended  most  upon  his  infantry,  but  loved  artillery  from  his  early 
;association  with  that  branch  of  the  service,  never  appearing  so 
well  pleased  as  when  directing  in  person  the  fire  of  his  cannon, 
amid  a  shower  of  shot  and  shell.  When  once  engaged,  he 
seemed  to  discard  all  idea  of  defeat,  and  to  regard  the  issue  as 
assured.  And  what  was  more  important,  his  men  seemed  to 
share  his  conviction.  Even  at  Kernstown  he  believed  the  Fed- 


JACKSON   THE    SOLDIER   AND   THE    MAN.  455 

eral  forces  would  have  retired  in  teu  minutes  if  one  of  his  own 
brigades  had  not  been  ordered  to  fall  back.  A  man  less  open  to 
the  conviction  that  he  was  whipped,  could  not  be  imagined.  His 
indomitable  combativeness,  it  might  have  been  said,  made  him 
set  his  teeth  against  Fate,  and  endeavor  to  place  his  heel  upon 
Destiny  itself. 

It  may  be  said  of  him  with  truth,  that  he  deserved  victory. 
No  man  was  more  careful  in  the  use  of  every  precaution  to  en- 
sure success.  The  idea  that  he  blundered  on  without  prudence 
or  system,  and  achieved  his  successes  only  by  some  mysterious 
good  fortune,  is  a  mere,  fancy.  No  soldier  was  ever  less  in- 
debted to  "  luck  ; "  no  one  ever  proceeded  in  military  matters 
upon  profounder  logic.  He  knew  his  strength  and  his  weakness, 
but  the  difference  between  him  and  others  was,  that  he  made  his 
estimates  more  correctly.  He  did  not  look  to  numbers  only,  but 
to  morale,  the  situation,  and  the  spirits  of  his  troops.  With  the 
three  hundred  of  Leonidas,  he  would  have  attempted  great 
things  ;  with  the  fifty  thousand  survivors  of  Napoleon's  Grand 
Amnee,  crushed  in  morale  by  Waterloo,  he  would  have  attempted 
nothing.  If  his  men  were  on  fire  with  ardor,  and  the  enemy, 
though  treble  their  number,  were  disorganized  by  surprise,  or 
for  other  reasons,  he  would  advance  to  the  assault  without  fear 
of  defeat. 

No  General  ever  made  a  greater  use  of  mystery.  He  saw 
from  the  first  that  he  commanded  men  of  education,  thought, 
speculation — the  most  inquisitive  of  private  soldiers.  Without 
due  precaution  taken,  they  were  certain  to  know  what  it  was  in- 
expedient for  the  private  soldier  to  know  ;  his  designs  would  be 
penetrated,  and  be  noised  abroad.  Hence  his  inscrutable  mys- 
tery. He  would  not  permit  his  men  to  inquire  the  names  of  the 
towns  through  which  they  passed ;  and  on  the  march  against 
General  McClellan  at  Richmond,  issued  that  order  directing  the 
troops  to  reply,  "  I  don't  know,"  to  every  question.  He  said 
that  if  his  coat  knew  what  he  designed,  he  would  take  it  off  and 
burn  it.  He  would  encamp  for  the  night  at  cross  roads,  and  the 
quidnuncs  were  iu  despair  at  their  inability  to  determine  toward 


456  LIFE    OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

what  point  of  the  compass  he  would  march  on  the  morrow. 
About  to  abandon  the  Valley,  he  publicly  directed  careful  maps 
to  be  made  of  the  region,  as  though  intending  a  campaign  there- 
in. When  one  of  his  staff  engaged  dinner  a  few  miles  ahead  of 
his  advancing  column,  he  admonished  him  of  his  error.  How 
did  he  know  that  the  column  would  pass  that  point? 

He  had  the  faculty  of  waiting  for  his  adversary.  No  man 
was  ever  more  determined  not  to  be  forced  to  fight  before  he 
was  ready.  His  retreats  appeared  panic-stricken,  but  were  in, 
reality  the  deliberate  movements  of  a  master  of  the  art  of  war,. 
He  was  never  more  dangerous  than  when  flying.  From  dreams: 
of  success,  and  visions  of  complete  victory,  his  opponent  was  apt 
to  be  rudely  awakened.  We  have  seen  that,  in  May,  1862, 
General  Banks,  then  at  Harrisonburg,  telegraphed  that  the  rebel 
Jackson  had  been  driven  from  the  Valley,  and  was  in  rapid, 
retreat  on  Richmond.  The  commentary  was  Jackson's  swift, 
and  unexpected  march  upon  Milroy  at  McDowell ;  his  complete 
defeat  of  that  officer,  and  his  equally  rapid  advance  upon  Gen- 
eral Banks  at  Harrisonburg,  before  which  the  Federal  com- 
mander was  forced  in  turn  to  retreat  in  confusion. 

Until  all  his  arrangements  were  made,  no  adversary  could 
draw  him  into  action.  When  the  moment  came,  he  saved  the 
officer  opposed  to  him  all  trouble  on  that  score.  He  initiated 
the  matter  by  attacking  with  all  his  strength.  If  one  assault 
failed,  he  made  a  second.  If  his  first  line  gave  way  he  brought 
up  his  second.  If  the  second  had  bad  fortune,  his  reserve  was 
led  into  action  ;  and  if  these  did  not  at  once  retrieve  the  fortunea 
of  the  day,  he  placed  himself  in  front  of  them  and  led  them  in 
person,  fully  determined  to  conquer  or  die. 

There  were  few  who  failed  him  at  such  moments.  The  sight 
of  Jackson  upon  these  occasions,  seemed  to  turn  the  heads  of  the 
troops.  They  forgot  all  else,  and  grew  reckless  ;  and  when  men 
become  reckless,  they  go  far.  Cedar  Run,  as  the  reader  may 
remember,  furnished  an  instance  of  this.  The  left  wing,  formed 
of  Jackson's  veterans,  was  broken,  and  in  ten  minutes  the  battle 
would  have  been  lost.  There  were  no  reserves  to  put  in,  and; 


JACKSON   THE    SOLDIEK   AND   THE   MAN.  457 

Jackson  rallied  the  troops  in  person.  A  single  shout  of  "  Stone- 
wall Jackson  !  Stonewall  Jackson  !  "  ran  along  the  line,  and  it 
was  re-formed  in  a  moment.  In  front  of  them  they  saw  a  sword 
shining  through  the  smoke  of  action,  and  recognized  the  old 
faded  cap  and  piercing  eyes  of  their  chief.  The  result  was 
a  new  assault,  and  one  of  the  most  important  of  Jackson's 
victories. 

His  tenacity  and  strength  of  will  seemed  to  have  no  limit. 
Nothing  appeared  to  affect  that  supreme  resolution.  Such  a 
man  is  the  master  of  fate,  and  with  his  iron  hand  directs  events. 
Napoleon  trusted  to  his  star,  and  Jackson,  it  was  said,  believed 
in  "  his  destiny  " — a  word  which  he  construed,  apparently,  to 
mean  success  against  his  enemies,  wherever  he  encountered  them. 
There  seems  to  be  good  ground  for  the  belief  that  he  regarded 
himself  as  a  passive  instrument  in  the  hands  of  Providence  to 
accomplish  great  events,  and  had  satisfied  himself  that  the  Lord 
of  Hosts  would  uphold  him.  This  conviction,  supported  by 
abilities  of  the  first  order,  made  him  almost  irresistible. 

His  intellect,  in  all  military  matters,  was  remarkably  clear,  vig- 
orous, and  practical.  There  are  some  nimble  and  apprehensive 
spirits  whose  natures  appear  too  sharp  and  delicate  for  every- 
day work.  To  cut  down  a  tree  men  do  not  use  a  razor,  but  an 
axe.  Jackson's  military  judgment  was  a  ponderous  weapon, 
and  struck  straight  at  the  obstacle.  He  was  opposed  to  half-way 
measures „  and  in  favor  of  decisive  blows.  Subtlety  and  dialecti- 
cal hair-splitting  found  little  favor  with  him.  He  knew  what  he 
wanted,  and  had  a  perfectly  clear  idea  of  the  means  by  which  he 
could  secure  his  object.  Refinements  of  strategy  occupied  ^little 
of  his  attention.  He  was  for  results,  and  saw  how  to  attain 
them.  Alone  of  all  the  Southern  generals  he  was  in  favor  of 
attacking  the  Federal  army  on  the  evening  of  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg ;  and  at  the  council  of  war,  held  on  that  occa- 
sion, is  said  to  have  started  from  a  doze,  when  called  upon  for 
his  opinion,  exclaiming,  only  half  awake,  "  Drive  'em  into  the 
river."  All  his  views  were  aggressive,  and  looked  to  attack, 
not  defence.  After  Port  Eepublic  he  said,  "  If  the  President 


458  LIFE   OF   STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

will  give  me  60,000  men,  I  will  be  in  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania, 
in  two  weeks.  I  will  undertake  it  with  40,000."  After  Cold 
Harbor,  as  we  have  seen,  he  again  wished  to  advance,  exclaim- 
ing, "  The  Scipio  Africanus  policy  is  the  best."  On  the  evening 
of  the  first  battle  of  Manassas,  his  clear  military  intellect,  un- 
clouded by  subtleties,  hesitations,  or  those  pros  and  cons  which 
paralyze  action,  saw  the  whole  field  before  him  ;  and  he  said,  in 
his  curt  voice :  "  Give  me  10,000  men,  and  I  will  be  in  "Wash- 
ington to-night." 

He  was  an  intense  and  concentrative  thinker.  His  piercing 
eyes  saw  far  and  deep.  Without  the  power  to  utter,  write,  or 
perform  any  notable  thing  in  the  ordinary  commerce  of  human 
affairs,  he  brought  to  the  great  game  of  war  immense  powers  of 
analysis  and  combination.  Success  was  an  equation  which  he 
worked  out  with  mathematical  precision.  When  an  event  took 
place  like  the  gap  left  in  his  line  at  the  second  battle  of  Manas- 
sas, and  Fredericksburg,  or  the  falling  back  of  the  Stonewall 
Brigade  at  Kernstown,  his  whole  plans  miscarried.  It  was  the 
error  in  the  calculation  which  vitiated  the  result.  Such  were 
the  faculties  which  seem  to  the  present  writer  to  have  character- 
ized Jackson,  and  produced  his  extraordinary  successes.  But  it 
is  difficult  to  discard  the  idea,  after  a  full  consideration  of  his 
career,  that  he  was  guided  in  his  arduous  campaigns  by  some- 
thing resembling  a  species  of  intuition.  Many  of  his  followers 
openly  stated  their  belief  that  he  was  "  inspired,"  and  the  mili- 
tary critic  will  find,  after  all,  in  his  career  a  certain  intuition  of 
genius  which  cannot  be  classified  or  described.  He  seemed  to 
possess  the  faculty  of  seeing  what  was  the  right  thing  to  do  at 
the  right  time ;  not  to  come  to  his  conclusion  by  any  train  of 
logic,  but  at  a  bound.  Others  exhibited  supreme  talent,  trained 
to  the  highest  perfection ;  but  Jackson's  military  movements 
everywhere  betrayed  that  subtle  thing  called  genius.  His  glance 
was  like  the  lightning  which  reveals  the  entire  landscape  before 
the  benighted  traveller  and  shows  him  the  road. 

Passing  from  the  characteristics  of  Jackson  the  soldier  we 
may  find  some  points  of  interest  in  the  personal  traits  of  Jackson 


JACKSON   THE   SOLDIER  AND   THE   MAN.  459 

the  man.  It  is  interesting  to  know  how  such  men  look  and 
speak  ;  how  they  carry  themselves  under  good  or  bad  fortune  ; 
in  what  manner  they  "  live  and  move  and  have  their  being." 
Jackson's  demeanor  upon  the  field  was  quite  absorbed,  and  at 
times  absent-minded,  as  though  he  were  engaged  in  some  pro- 
found calculation,  or  following  some  subtle  train  of  thought 
When  spoken  to  at  such  moments,  his  head  turned  quickly,  his 
eye  glittered,  and  he  listened  with  attention,  replying  in  the 
fewest  words  possible.  His  tone  was  curt  but  not  discourteous. 
His  bearing,  his  smile,  and  the  ready  hand  to  his  cap,  on  the 
contrary,  were  markedly  courteous,  nor  has  the  present  writer 
ever  known  him,  under  the  most  exciting  circumstances,  to  lose 
this  simple  and  modest  air  of  kindly  good  breeding.  He  was 
the  most  approachable  of  corps  commanders,  and  any  private 
soldier  might  be  sure  of  a  friendly  reply  to  any  question  which 
he  asked.  There  was  no  air  of  authority,  official  stiffness,  hau- 
teur, assumption,  or  coldness  in  his  demeanor.  He  "  looked  like 
work,"  was  unmoved  by  vanity,  regarded  his  troops  as  his 
children  ;  and  when  he  fell,  it  was  not  the  heart  of  wife  and  friend 
alone  that  felt  the  blow,  but  thousands  who  no  longer  felt  the  old 
enthusiasm  preluding  victory. 

His  air  at  Lexington  had  been  that  of  a  recluse.  In  the 
army  he  became  somewhat  more  sociable,  but  was  never  easy 
and  unembarrassed.  His  voice  was  low  and  distinct,  without 
much  compass,  but  clear  in  enunciation,  with  all  its  curtness, 
and  conveying  the  impression  of  great  earnestness  in  the  speaker. 
All  the  staff  officers  of  the  army  liked  him.  In  listening  to  a 
communicatiin  he  bent  over,  paid  close  attention,  and  from  time 
to  time  nodded  his  head  and  smiled,  as  though  pleased  with  the 
accuracy  of  the  statement.  His  orders  were  brief,  clear,  and 
if  necessary  were  repeated.  This  was  done  quietly,  and  with- 
out fret  or  impatience.  "  He  was  the  politest  man  I  ever  saw," 
said  an  officer  long  near  his  person,  "  and  I  believe  he  consid- 
ered it  a  part  of  his  military  duty."  This  may  be  true,  but  it 
was  not  the  source  of  his  courtesy.  He  was  by  nature  kindly, 
and  on  many  occasions  displayed  an  exquisite  sense  of  true  cour- 


460  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

tesy,  and  spoke  very  nobly.  Just  before  Chancellorsville,  whilt 
riding  with  General  Lee,  fee  met  Colonel  Wickham,  of  the  cav 
airy,  who  received  some  instructions  from  General  Lee  as  to  the 
disposition  of  his  force.  "When  General  Lee  had  finished,  Jack- 
son said  :  "  Colonel,  there  is  a  gap  in  the  line  yonder ;  General 
Wright  is  too  much  to  the  left.  Tell  him  to  close  up  with  your 
cavalry."  Colonel  Wickham  looked  at  the  speaker,  whose  dress 
exhibited  no  evidences  of  his  rank,  and  said,  "  From  whom 
shall  I  say  the  order  comes,  sir?"  "  Why,  Colonel,"  said  Gen- 
eral Lee,  "  don't  you  know  General  Jackson?"  Colonel  Wick- 
ham bowed  and  replied,  "  I  did  not,  General.  I  keep  with  my 
command,  and  never  before  had  the  pleasure  to  meet  or  know 
you,  General  Jackson."  "  But  I  knew  you,  Colonel,"  replied 
Jackson,  with  the  bow  of  a  nobleman  and  his  most  winning 
smile.  This  smile  was  very  sweet.  A  lady  described  it  as 
"  angelic."  It  was  certainly  the  most  friendly  imaginable,  and 
charmed  all  who  conversed  with  him.  It  was  impossible  not  to 
see  that  he  was  a  man  of  great  kindness,  of  an  extraordinary 
sweetness  of  temper,  tender-hearted,  easily  moved  to  pity  and 
all  pure  emotions.  He  was  very  simple  and  unostentatious  in 
his  manners  and  habits ;  used  neither  tea,  coffee,  nor  tobacco,, 
and  never  touched  spirit  except  as  a  medicine.  When  he  was 
sick  one  day,  Dr.  McGuire,  his  surgeon,  gave  him  some  whis- 
key, and  he  made  a  wry  face  in  swallowing  it.  Dr.  McGuire 
asked  him  if  it  was  not  good,  when  he  replied  :  "  Oh  yes,  very 
good.  I  like  liquor,  both  the  taste  and  the  effect,  and  that  is  the 
reason  I  don't  drink  it  I "  He  cared  not  what  he  ate,  and  would 
sleep  in  a  fence  corner  with  perfect  content.  There  never  was 
a  greater  sleeper.  His  physical  constitution  seemed  to  require 
it,  and  he  would  drop  asleep  under  a  tree,  in  his  chair,  or  in  the 
saddle  on  a  march.  "  If  his  rest  was  broken  for  one  night," 
says  Dr.  McGuire,  "  he  was  almost  sure  to  go  to  sleep  upon  his 
horse  if  riding  next  day."  On  one  of  these  occasions  when  he 
was  swaying  unsteadily  with  the  movements  of  his  horse,  a  sol- 
dier who  did  not  recognize  him  called  out  and  asked  facetiously 
"  where  he  got  his  liquor  !  "  The  noise  woke  the  General,  and 


JACKSON   THE    SOLDIER   AND   THE   MAN.  461 

tie  laughed  heartily.  His  propensity  for  lying  on  the  ground 
had  much  to  do  with  the  dingy  appearance  of  his  uniform.  His 
old  coat  was  covered  with  dust  collected  from  the  battle-fields 
of  many  regions,  as  he  slept  upon  the  earth,  in  rude  bivouac, 
after  the  hard-fought  day.  All  this  endeared  him  to  his  soldiers, 
at  whose  camp-fires  he  would  stop  to  talk  in  the  friendly  fashion 
of  the  officers  of  Napoleon,  and  whose  rations  he  would  fre- 
quently share.  The  sight  of  his  faded  coat  and  cadet  cap  was 
the  sign  to  cheer,  and  "  Old  Jack  "  was  personally  adored,  as  in 
his  military  capacity  he  was  regarded  by  his  men  as  the  greatest 
of  leaders.  Even  his  peculiarities  became  sources  of  popular- 
ity, and  endeared  him  to  his  troops.  It  was  said  of  Suwarrow 
that  his  men  mimicked  him,  gave  him  nicknames,  and  adored 
him.  It  was  the  same  with  Jackson.  His  troops  laughed  a. 
his  dingy  old  uniform,  his  cap,  tilting  forward  on  his  nose,  his 
awkward  strides,  his  abstracted  air,  and  christening  him  "  Old 
Jack,"  made  him  their  first  and  greatest  of  favorites.  There 
was  one  peculiarity  of  the  individual,  however,  which  they  re- 
garded with  something  like  superstition.  We  refer  to  the  singu- 
lar fashion  he  had  of  raising  his  hand  aloft,  and  then  suddenly 
letting  the  arm  fall  at  his  side.  On  many  occasions  he  made 
this  strange  gesture  as  his  veterans  moved  slowly  before  him, 
advancing  to  the  charge.  At  such  moments  his  face  would  be 
raised  to  heaven,  his  eyes  closed,  and  his  lips  would  move  evi- 
dently in  prayer.  The  same  gesture  was  observed  in  him,  as  we 
have  seen,  at  Chancellorsville,  while  gazing  at  the  body  of  one 
of  his  old  command.  He  was  plainly  praying,  with  his  hand 
uplifted,  for  the  welfare  of  the  dead  man's  soul. 

We  have  given  an  outline  of  Jackson's  chief  traits  as  a  sol- 
dier. Intellectually,  he  does  not  appear  to  have  been  conspic- 
uously endowed  beyond  the  sphere  of  his  profession.  His  mind 
was  sound  and  just,  but  not  brilliant  or  original.  He  was  a 
good  mathematician,  a  patient  thinker,  and  displayed  a  native 
good  sense  in  his  views  and  opinions,  but,  except  in  military  af- 
fairs, he  exhibited  no  traces  of  genius.  He  was  a  clear  and  in- 
telligent but  not  a  powerful  or  original  writer.  Such  of  his  let- 


462  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

ters  as  we  have  seen  do  not  differ  in  a  noticeable  degree  from 
those  of  mediocre  men.  He  seemed  to  possess  little  imagina- 
tion or  poetry.  His  genius  was  practical,  and  dealt  with  the 
phenomena  of  nature,  the  principles  of  science  and  philosophy, 
and  the  realities  of  the  world  around  him.  It  will  remain  an 
interesting  problem  whether  he  would  have  distinguished  him- 
self in  the  conduct  of  civil  affairs.  It  is  certain  that  he  would 
have  been  a  dominant  man,  and  as  President  would  have  ad- 
ministered the  Government  in  accordance  with  his  views  of 
right,  without  regard  to  persons.  Whether  he  would  have 
proved  himself  as  great  in  the  cabinet  or  the  chair  of  the  Exec- 
utive as  in  the  field,  is  doubtful. 

An  officer  long  intimately  associated  with  him  gives  an  ex- 
cellent summary  of  his  character. 

"  Apparently  dull  in  some  directions,"  says  this  gentleman, 
"  he  was  in  others  an  original  and  patient  thinker.  As  a  mili- 
tary genius  no  other  remains  like  him.  Judging  with  quick  and 
seldom  erring  sagacity,  he  was  as  prompt,  energetic,  and  success- 
ful in  action.  Humble  before  his  Maker,  gentle  in  daily  life, 
with  an  amiable  sweetness  to  chosen  friends,  and  a  sincere  po- 
liteness toward  every  human  being,  he  was  habitually  brief  and 
decided  in  expression,  steadfast  in  purpose,  and  when  fully 
aroused,  as  in  the  crisis  of  battle,  sublime  in  the  fire  of  his 
spirit.  A  man  of  prayer,  faith,  simplicity,  purity,  and  power." 

There  is  little  doubt  that  the  views  of  the  present  generatioD, 
including  the  writer  of  these  pages,  concerning  Jackson  the  sol- 
dier, are  more  or  less  mingled  with  undue  admiration.  His 
faults  are  not  seen  ;  his  merits  may  be  exaggerated.  But  as  a 
man,  his  virtues  were  recognized  even  by  his  opponents.  The 
trait  of  character  which  conciliated  most  the  regard  and  respect 
of  his  enemies,  was  the  profound  sincerity  and  earnestness  of 
his  nature.  There  was  no  doubt  about  Jackson's  utter  truth 
and  honesty.  Life  with  him  was  a  serious  affair,  and  he  seemed 
to  have  no  time  for  enjoyment  even.  At  "West  Point  he  studied 
conscientiously,  avoiding  all  lighter  occupations ;  in  Mexico  he 
betook  himself  to  hard  fighting ;  and  at  Lexington  his  whole 


JACKSON   THE    SOLDIER    AND    THE    MAN.  463 

became  absorbed  in  the  performance  of  his  humdrum  du- 
ties, and  the  earnest  endeavor  to  discover  the  will  of  his  Maker, 
and  conform  to  that  will  in  all  things. 

The  students  laughed  at  the  silent  and  awkward  professor, 
who  found  enjoyment  apparently  in  nothing  but  religious  exer- 
cises and  hard  work  ;  but  they  could  not  understand  the  "  great 
thoughts "  and  certain  joys  which  the  taciturn  soldier  derived 
from  his  religion. 

We  cannot  here  define  the  exact  religious  views  of  this  emi- 
nent man.  He  has  been  called  a  fatalist,  from  his  ultra  indiffer 
ence  to  danger ;  but  fatalism,  proper,  is  an  absurdity.  That  he 
held  the  Presbyterian  view  of  predestination  is  certain ;  but  to 
discover  and  perform  the  will  of  God,  without  regard  to  that  or 
any  other  dogma,  was  his  "  meat  and  drink."  With  him,  his 
religion  was  his  life.  It  was  the  broad  foundation  of  all  his 
thoughts  and  words  and  deeds.  He  seemed  to  live,  consciously, 
under  the  eye  of  God,  and  to  shape  all  his  actions  with  reference 
to  the  divine  approval.  He  bad  no  time  to  think  whether  this 
or  that  in  his  character,  his  actions,  or  his  utterances,  was  "  con- 
ventional "  or  not — pleased  or  displeased  his  fellow-man,  Am  I 
conforming  my  life  to  the  will  of  God  ?  was  always  and  under 
all  circumstances  his  only  question. 

From  this  profound  and  controlling  piety  sprung  his  virtues, 
his  peculiarities,  and  his  true  greatness.  Contemplating  the 
profound  significance,  of  his  position  as  an  immortal  soul,  tarry- 
ing for  a  season  only  upon  earth,  and  destined  by  its  conduct 
here  to  shape  for  all  eternity  its  own  weal  or  woe,  all  other 
things  became  poor  and  inconsiderable  in  his  eyes ;  what  men 
thought  of  him,  how  he  appeared  in  society,  what  dress  he  wore, 
what  food  he  eat,  what  worldly  enjoyments  he  neglected,  or  what 
worldly  honors  he  missed  or  secured.  Something  of  the  old 
spirit  of  the  Man  of  Tarsus  was  in  the  heart  of  Jackson,  whp 
had  his  meditations  and  his  work,  and  could  afford  to  neglect  the 
purple  and  the  feasting,  and  endure  all  things  for  the  faith  that 
was  in  him. 

Jackson  died  before  he  reached  the  age  of  forty,  and  had  but 


464:  LIFE   OF    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

two  years  of  life  for  the  display  of  his  great  faculties.  But 
this  period  was  long  enough.  In  that  contracted  space  of  time 
he  accomplished  results  which  will  render  his  name  and  fame 
immortal.  Few  human  beings  ever  equalled  him  in  the  great 
art  of  making  war — fewer  still  in  purity  of  heart  and  life. 
It  was  a  nature  almost  altogether  lovely  which  lay  under  that 
faded  uniform  of  the  great  soldier.  No  stain  of  insincerity,  or 
meanness,  or  vain-gloriousness  marred  a  character  which  com- 
bined the  loftiest  virtues  of  the  gentleman,  the  soldier,  and  the 
Christian. 

He  sleeps  now,  cold  to  praise  or  blame ;  but  a  poor  writer, 
proud  to  have  touched  his  hand  and  followed  him,  offers  this 
page  to  his  Illustrious  memory. 


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